Obituary of Phyllis Ann Dito

A memorial service for Phyllis Ann Dito will be held 11:00 am on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, at Pence-Reese Funeral Home.  A visitation will be held from 10:00 am until service time.

Phyllis was born August 23, 1931 in Wichita, KS the daughter of Harvey and Lola Koopman Oswalt.  She moved to Newton with her parents at an early age.  She attended Newton Community Schools and graduated from Newton Senior High School Class of 1949.  Upon graduation she worked for the Maytag Company.  Phyllis was united in marriage to Anthony Richard “Tony” Dito on May 3, 1952, in Newton, Iowa.  During their first few years of marriage they moved between Newton, IA and Brooklyn, NY several times, before settling in New York and raising their family.   While raising her family, Phyllis was employed by a prominent NY City real estate attorney. Upon their retirement, Phyllis and Tony returned to Newton to live out their golden years.

Phyllis was first, and foremost, devoted to her family.  She was not a coffee clutcher; preferring to keep close friendships with those she enjoyed a special bond.  In her early years, she loved to roller skate, bowl and dance.  More currently, her interests included reading, working crossword puzzles, watching late-night tv and Hallmark channel movies, and rooting for her beloved NY Yankees.

Phyllis died on Wednesday, March 11, 2020 at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa.  She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Anthony “Tony” Dito on April 21, 2011, three brothers Owen Oswalt, Glen Oswalt and Phillip Oswalt.

Those left to honor her memory include her sons Michael (Debbie) Dito of Port Jefferson Station, NY, Jeff (Laura) Dito of Mooresville, NC, Joseph (Linda) Dito of Massapequa Park, NY, and Phillip Dito of Sound Beach, NY, her daughter Debra (Salvatore) Gallo of Arnold, MD, 6 grandchildren Anthony Dito, Christopher Dito, Thomas Dito, Joseph Dito, Michael Dito and Carter Dito and 1 great-granddaughter Natalie Ellis, and several nieces and nephews.