PHYLLIS RUE CROXTON DALE
Phyllis Rue Croxton Dale, of Temple, Texas, formerly of Memphis, Texas, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, at the age of 93.
Services took place at 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6, 2023, in the First Baptist Church of Memphis with Rev. Daniel Downey officiating. Burial followed in Fairview Cemetery in Memphis. Arrangements were by Robertson Funeral Directors of Memphis.
Phyllis Rue Croxton Dale was born April 23, 1929, in Grady, Okla., the third of 14 children born to Roy Arthur and Audrey Blanche Evans Croxton. Phyllis met Kenneth Dale in Vernon, Texas, and they married on May 10, 1947.
Kenneth joined the Texas Highway Patrol shortly after their marriage, and they moved first to Hereford, Texas and then to Clarendon, Texas with his job. At each of these locations, Phyllis was very involved in activities at the First Baptist Church, where they made lifelong friendships.
Phyllis and Kenny moved to Memphis in early 1952 and joined First Baptist Church (FBC) Memphis, where she remained a member for 64 years.
Phyllis served as a fulltime wife and mother for about 10 years after moving to Memphis. She was active in PTA and church activities during this phase. After that time, she went to work at the Cotton Classing Office and then the First National Bank, where she continued working as a teller until retirement.
During this period, Phyllis served in various groups at FBC, including Women’s Missionary Society and teaching Sunday School, as well as the Delphian Club, Red Hatters and the Hall County Hospital Auxiliary. In 2016, Phyllis moved to Temple to be closer to family.
Phyllis loved playing board games, such as Joker, 42 and, since moving to Temple, bingo. She was an excellent seamstress, making many outfits for herself and her daughter.
Phyllis is survived by her daughter, Cathy Koonce, married to Robert; her son, Randy Dale, married to Melinda; three grandchildren, Brandon Koonce, married to Jamie, Jennifer Essary, married to Joshua, and Andrea Huffman, married to Aaron; eight great-grandchildren, Amelia Koonce, Declan Koonce, Charlotte Koonce, Andrew Essary, Evelyn Essary, Zoe Huffman, Micah Huffman and Maggie Huffman; a sister, Elaine Parsons; her brothers, Rickie Croxton and Mickie Croxton; and a large extended family.
Phyllis was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Dale; granddaughter Whitney Koonce; her mother and father; and brothers and sisters.
For memorials, in lieu of flowers, friends and family are asked to donate to First Baptist Church Memphis or the Memphis Volunteer Fire Department.
Sign the online guestbook at www.robertsonfuneral. com.
