Obituary of Phyllis Ryman Black

Phyllis Ryman Black died August 10, 2013 three weeks prior to her 92nd birthday. She was born on her grandfather's farm, which is now the Ryland Inn, on August 31, 1921 to George Malcolm Ryman and Theodora Bellis Ryman. That farm became the Ryland Inn in 1935. Phyllis went to Clinton and Whitehouse grade schools, graduated from Flemington High School class of 1938 and attended Beaver College in Glenside, PA. She owned and operated Bellis and Son Stationary and Sundries from 1941 to 1945. At age 20 she was the first woman theater manager in the state of New Jersey at Clinton Point Theater. She then worked for her mother and father who were founder, owner, and operators of the Ryland Inn. In 1955 she purchased the Inn from her parents and operated it with her son and daughter until 1989 when the family sold the business. Phyllis was a member of the Whitehouse United Methodist Church for over 70 years and had a passion for the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution). She became a charter member of the Children of the Revolution (CAR) in 1931 and remained an active member throughout her life. She was a State Regent of the Old Whitehouse Chapter that she merged first to the Somerset General Frelinghusen Chapter then later with the Col. Lowry Chapter. She was also a member of the Stewart Larget - Eastern Star Post #166 for over 60 years. She served for many years on the Board of the Foundation of the Raritan Valley Community College and served on the Board of Directors of the Rural Hills Cemetery Association in Whitehouse. In 1980 Phyllis was awarded Restaurateur of the Year by the North NJ Geneva Association. In 1982 she received the Woman of the Year Award from NYU for outstanding contribution to the food service industry. In 1990 Phyllis received the Girl Scout Women's Achievement Award and the Award of Excellence, for the woman who cared, from the woman's crisis. She was predeceased by her parents and her brother, John Kencyl Ryman. Phyllis is survived by her son, William Hilbert Black Jr. and his wife, Janet Copeland Black; her daughter, Sandra Black Maxwell and her husband, Timothy James Maxwell; her grandchildren, Stacy Copeland Black, Sarah Ryman Black, Timothy James Maxwell, Jr, John Ryman Maxwell, Meredith Maxwell Milchanoski and her 6 great granddaughters and 1 great grandson. Phyllis is also survived by her sister-in-law, Elizabeth Hoffman Ryman and several nieces. A gathering of remembrance will be held on Saturday, August 17, 2013 from 2:00 to 6:00 pm. at the Kearns Funeral Home, 103 Old Highway 28, Whitehouse. A private family service will follow. In lieu of flowers, may be made to the DAR of Old Whitehouse Chapter, 5 Mullen Road, Whitehouse Station, NJ 08889 or the Whitehouse Methodist Church Dedicated Fund, in memory of Phyllis Black. PO Box 190, Whitehouse, NJ 08888 For more information or to send condolences please visit www.kearnsfuneralhome.com