Phyllis Marie Murr Paine, 91, surrounded by family, passed away Sunday, May 28, 2023.
Phyllis spent most of her years farming in South Annville near Fontana. She then resided at Spang Crest and, most recently, Harmony at Hershey. She was the loving wife of the late Robert Walter Paine, who passed away in 2008.
Born in Lancaster, PA, she was a daughter of the late Clyde and Minnie (Killian) Murr.
Phyllis spent her childhood living and working on a farm in Quarryville, Lancaster County. After high school, Phyllis continued her education at Lancaster General Hospital School of Nursing. There, she studied for three years to obtain a degree as a Registered Nurse. She then joined the Lancaster General Hospital’s staff as an Operating Room Technician and received awards for her Operating Room Technique. After marrying Robert Walter Paine, she moved to Somerset, NJ, near where her husband was stationed in the Navy.
In 1956, Phyllis and her husband purchased a 10-acre farm in South Annville Township, Lebanon County. Surrounding her home was beautiful White Birch Trees. She and her husband named the farm White Birch Farm. There, she raised her family. In addition, she Truck Farmed, managed a Roadside Stand, and bred, raised, and sold Yorkshire Hogs. Phyllis and Bob were one of the oldest Yorkshire Breeders in Pennsylvania. She planted, grew, harvested, and sold fresh produce of all types at the Roadside Stand.
After losing a barn in a misfortunate fire, Phyllis and Bob rebuilt the barn and added a small glass greenhouse. This grew into White Birch Farm Greenhouses. There, Bob planted seeds, and Phyllis transplanted seedlings into market packs. They specialized in growing and selling flower and vegetable plants in the spring, fresh vegetables in the summer, pumpkins, squash, gourds, Indian corn, and mums in the fall, and Christmas trees in winter. Phyllis especially loved gourds in all their various forms. She selected her favorite gourds and saved the seeds for next year’s crop. Over the years, White Birch Farm’s pumpkins, gourds, and squash won many awards at the Pennsylvania Farm Show.
She loved the color red, white Gardenias, cloud spotting, and sunsets. Occasionally, she would call the neighbors when the sunset was most beautiful so they would not miss out on the experience. Phyllis was a diligent member of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Lebanon. She enjoyed all aspects of worship and the Church Community. Phyllis and her husband were involved with The Lebanon Area 4H Fair, especially their chicken and ham BBQ dinners. Phyllis was creative, intelligent, curious, kind, and a lifelong learner. She was a selfless person placing others’ needs before her own.
She will be greatly and deeply missed by all who knew her. May God rest her beautiful soul.
Phyllis is survived by one sister, Mariann Roberts; two sons, Jeffrey L. Paine, and his wife, Stephanie, of Enhaut, and Richard D. Arnold-Paine, and wife, Kristen, of Lebanon; five grandchildren, Alexandria Paine, Alisha Miller, and Ethan, Peyton, and Owen Arnold-Paine; and three great-grandchildren, Andrea Paine, and Stella and Sloane Miller.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Walter Paine; and her daughter, Karen Paine English.
Funeral services will be held Friday, June 9, 2023, at 12 PM from Church of the Good Shepherd, 1500 Quentin Rd., Lebanon, PA 17042. Burial will follow at Gingrich Mennonite Cemetery. A viewing will take place from 10 AM until the time of her service at the Church.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. To honor Phyllis, please wear an article of red to the funeral if possible.
