Phyllis Guthrie

Phyllis Lile Thomas Guthrie, 87, of Bellefontaine, Ohio, passed away Monday, December 2, 2013, at her residence.

She was born in Bellefontaine, Ohio August 30, 1926, to the late Frank Vernon and Abbie Ruth (Hayes) Lile. Her first husband Kenneth, passed away June 3, 1984. Also preceding her in death was a daughter, Abby K. Young; granddaughters, Tessa H. Vance and Amy Irene Vance; a brother, Joe Lile, and a son-in-law, Michael R. Vance.

Surviving is her second husband Bill Guthrie, whom she married July 27, 1991, in Fort Knox, Kentucky; her children, Inalee Thomas (Long) Tan of Johnstown, Ohio and Kenneth Lile (Angie) Thomas of Bellefontaine; grandchildren, Brendan L. Tan, Gabrielle M. Tan, Michael T. Vance and Marcus W. (Olivia) Vance; great granddaughters, Hannah and Kayla Vance; a son-in-law, James Young; her siblings, Katherine Hartzler of West Liberty, Ohio, James Lile and Levi (Nancy) Lile, both of Bellefontaine and numerous nieces and nephews.

Phyllis was a 1944 Bellefontaine High School graduate. On March 16, 1950, she married Kenneth Lewis Thomas and raised three children. After many years of performing professionally all over the United States and Europe, she was a member of the U.S.O. and started Lile School of Dance and Gymnastics with her brother, James Lile. For over fifty years she taught dance and with her daughters, earned the Certification of Dance Masters of America.

She devoted her life to family and her extended family of students who she had the privilege of instructing over the years.

Calling hours will be held from 4:00 to 8:00 P.M. Saturday, December 7, 2013, at the Eichholtz Funeral Home in Bellefontaine, where Pastor Bryan Meadows will officiate the funeral service Sunday, December 8, 2013, at 1:30 P.M. Interment will be at the Calvary Cemetery in Bellefontaine.

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