COUCH, Phyllis M. (1932-2016)

COUCH

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/2/2017 at 21:55:52

Phyllis Mary Couch
(August 12, 1932 - August 27, 2016)

Services for Phyllis Crouch, 84, who passed away Saturday, August 27, 2016, will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, August 31, 2016 at Overton Funeral Home, 501 W Ashland Avenue, Indianola, Iowa 50125 with burial following in the Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery, 7601 Fleur Drive, Des Moines, Iowa 50321. Phyllis Mary Ransom Crouch was born in Forest City, Iowa on the 12th of August 1932 to parents Frank and Genevieve Ransom. She attended Forest City Schools where she was active in many music events, including playing the oboe, being so proficient that she earned an one in national competition held at Kansas City, Missouri. She played the piano and organ for church services at the Forest City Methodist Church. She played the glockenspiel in the marching band. She graduated from Forest City High School second in her class in June 1950. She enrolled in nurses training at Broadlawns General Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa in the fall of 1950 which included training at Cook Co. Hospital in Chicago and The Veterans Hospital in Knoxville. She received her RN degree in June 1953 graduating second in her class. She began work as a scrub nurse in the Broadlawns operating room, advancing to circulating nurse, head nurse and finally acting supervisor.
She married John Crouch in April 1955 and together they raised two sons, David and John. She gave higher education a priority, making sure all her children and grandchildren received master’s degrees, helping financially through college savings Iowa. She worked as a private duty scrub nurse working for surgeons in whichever town, John, who was an IBM electric typewriters salesman, was located. After John became an attorney and was appointed a judge in Warren County, she worked for the Iowa Department of Human Services as a nursing home inspector when that department had title nineteen responsibilities; using her experience as the Director of Nursing at Ramsey Memorial Home. She volunteered for many worthwhile projects including Child Abuse Prevention Council, National Balloon Museum, Simpson Athletics, Des Moines Metro Opera Guild, reading to fourth graders and Kiya Koda Humane Society. She was an avid card player, belonging to five Bridge clubs and was a life member of the American Cribbage Congress. She was an avid bowler. She and husband John were awarded the volunteer of the year award for Greater Des Moines in 1994. She was active in Chapter NG PEO until illness prevented her from continuing. Surviving her is husband John and two sons, David (wife Karen) and John R (wife Patti); four grandchildren: Christopher Crouch (wife Erin), Kathryn D’Souza (husband Jonathan), Michele Crouch and William John Crouch; two great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and sister Joyce Stone. Visitation will be held Tuesday, August 30, 2016 from 5 to 7 p.m at Overton Funeral Home, 501 W Ashland Avenue, Indianola, Iowa 50125. This memorial is provided by Overton Funeral Home, 501 West Ashland Ave., Indianola, Iowa, [http://www.overtonfuneral.com/]