Phyllis Stuckey Yingling

Local educator, writer, activist, artist and beloved family member Phyllis Stuckey Yingling died peacefully at age 90 on August 30, 2021 at the Charlestown Retirement Community in Catonsville, MD. Phyllis and her husband Carroll traveled extensively around the world, yet she remained proud of her roots in the Back Creek Valley of the eastern panhandle of West Virginia. As a youth leader in her local WV United Methodist Church, Phyllis met handsome and charismatic Carroll Yingling from Baltimore, MD at a Methodist youth conference. She was a devoted minister’s wife at his parishes throughout the Baltimore-Washington region. They were very proud of their daughter and son Deborah Beth Yingling and Lewis “Chip” Yingling. In mid-life, Phyllis received a Master of Education from McDaniel College and taught deaf and hearing-impaired youth in Baltimore Schools. Phyllis wrote and published poetry, short stories and children’s books throughout her life. Phyllis became active in the women’s rights and peace movements in the 1970s and was an active member of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) for 40 years, serving as co-chair and co-founder of the Catonsville Chapter 1995-99 and President of the US Section from 1999-2002. She was docent at the Maryland Historical Society Museum. Her 72-year friendship with British pen pal Diane Brace spanned historic and personal events and brought their families together across the Atlantic multiple times. Phyllis enjoyed oil and watercolor painting and made handmade greeting cards. She loved singing, going to Baltimore theater and symphony with friends. When she was 79, Phyllis and Carroll walked the 90-mile Hadrian’s Wall Walk in the UK. Through her family, career, parish and non-profit work and uncommon ability to connect with many people, Phyllis touched the lives of thousands of people in positive ways. She is survived by her two children, grandchildren Joseph Sanders, Joanna DeRosa, Kate Edwards, Taylor Powell and their spouses, and six great grandchildren, Joshua, Vincent, Ryan, Marnie, Lincoln and Wolf. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 23 at the Our Lady of the Angels Chapel, 711 Maiden Choice Ln., Catonsville, MD. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Peace Development Fund, P.O. Box 1280, Amherst, MA 01004-1280. Write “WILPF” in the memo section.