Twenty-five years after they left the halls of Lima Central High School to enter a world just emerging from World War II, volunteers from the class of 1945 were making plans for their silver anniversary reunion.
Among those volunteers listed in a May 1970 article in The Lima News was Phyllis Wentz, who oversaw decorations. When 83 members of the class met at the Elks Club on June 27, 1970, it was Wentz who wrote about the event for The Lima News.
“The volunteers not only contacted the 240 members (of the class) but included 35 others who originally were part of the class, then either completed their education in private or other schools or entered military service,” Wentz wrote, adding, “World War II was part of the life of this class. Seven are deceased.”
Of the class members who walked out of Central as newly minted graduates in 1945, it would be difficult to find one more involved in her community than Wentz. After ending a two-decade career as a newspaperwoman in 1964, she served as field consultant and community manager of the West Central Ohio unit of the American Heart Association for 31 years.
Wentz, among many other activities, also found time to devote as a trustee of the Friends of Music, served in various posts with the Trinity United Methodist Church and with the Trinity Chapter 16, Order of Eastern Star, where she served as worthy matron in 1958 and 2006.
“There’s just no stopping Phyllis Wentz. Not even Phyllis Wentz can do it, it turns out,” The Lima News wrote in October 2005, as the then 76-year-old Wentz began her second tour as worthy matron of Chapter 16 on top of continuing her work with Trinity United Methodist.
“When she retired from the American Heart Association after 31 years, she thought she’d have a little time to relax, but it hasn’t worked out that way,” the newspaper added.
Wentz seemingly had little time for relaxing from the time she arrived in Lima from Wapakoneta in the early 1940s with her parents, Herbert M. and Grace Cooke Wentz, and four siblings. The family eventually settled into a home at 981 W. Wayne St., where Wentz would live for the remainder of her life. Wentz, who had attended Blume High School in Wapakoneta, was enrolled at Central High School.
By the fall of 1944, while still a student at Central, Wentz wrote articles about the high school for The Lima News. On Nov. 17, 1944, as Central prepared for its annual Thanksgiving Day game against South at Lima Stadium, Wentz reported students planned a “Foot Ball” at Memorial Hall following the game. A week later, she wrote on matters outside the walls of Central.
“Homeroom representatives will meet Monday in room 253 at Central high with the Senior War Bond committee to map further plans for the Sixth War Loan drive,” she wrote.
Following graduation, Wentz continued working at The Lima News as a copy girl and reporter. In late October 1945, with Beggar’s Night and Halloween looming, Wentz wrote about Lima’s first peacetime celebration of the holiday in four years.
“As for entertainment,” she wrote, “bobbing for apples has become a favorite party treat with others, such as going down cellar stairs backwards with only a mirror to guide your steps, holding other high spots.”
As Thanksgiving Day approached in 1948, she wrote a story that has become as much a staple of Thanksgiving as the turkey – hints on how to prepare a turkey. Wentz, however, gave it a humorous twist. Among her hints was the following: “Remove the feet if this hasn’t been done in the dressing. One thing, be sure you do this before putting the turkey in the oven because some of those turkeys are stouthearted souls.”
Through the late 1940s and 1950s, Wentz wrote feature stories — about raising pigeons, razing elementary schools built before the turn of the century and people who recovered from polio, the scourge of the day.
She also wrote about cultural events, such as a 1948 Lima appearance by the French National Orchestra. In March 1957, Wentz aired some “pet peeves” about Lima concertgoers.
“This is strictly for those who ‘twiddle programs,’ beat time with their feet and hands, comment on the artist’s ability during particularly pianissimo portions of the program and do other things which irritate those around them,” she wrote.
She also found time to speak about the role of women in newspapers. In August 1961, Wentz, by then music and education editor of the Lima Citizen, told members of the Kiwanis Club that reporters must “assume nothing and know all things,” according to a story in the rival Lima News.
“There are no routine days,” she said. “There are moments of frustration and times when reporting can be a million laughs.”
After two decades working in newspapers, Wentz changed careers.
“Phyllis Wentz, of 981 W. Wayne St., has been named field consultant for a nine-county area of the Central Ohio Heart Association,” The Lima News reported June 11, 1964.
“In her job with the heart association, Phyllis works with the boards in the various counties to help them recruit people for fund raising and creates programs for public and professional education,” The Lima News wrote in August 1973.
“If I didn’t believe in volunteer work, I would not have taken this job. We have the best people in the world because they’re doing something willingly without pay,” she told The Lima News. She added, “They are doing something for mankind and that’s good for the soul.”
Wentz by then had done a lot of things without pay. In addition to her activities with the Order of Eastern Star, she sang in the Trinity chancel choir, helped organize church music clinics, served on the Friends of Music board of trustees, was a member of the Northwest Music Board, was an advisory member of the Lima Assembly 78, Order of Rainbow for Girls, was a former member of YWCA board of directors, and was active in the Altrusa and Old Fashioned Gardening clubs.
“Her day begins officially at 7 a.m., with phone calls received and made,” The Lima News wrote in February 1995. “Her distinctive voice, perhaps better known than her face, cajoles, encourages, informs and commands, until she trades the living room for her car at 9 a.m. Her days usually end at 10:30 p.m. after a return to her living room and more phone conversations.”
Wentz stepped down later in 1995 years after 31 years with the heart association.
“In that 31-year career, she was on the road constantly, covering at one time an 11-county area,” The Lima News wrote in September 2000.
“I went crazy with my schedule, but I don’t regret one minute of any of my racing around,” she told The Lima News. “If you want to do something badly enough, you find time for it.”
The 86-year-old Wentz died December 1, 2014, at Lima Memorial Health System. She is buried in Greenlawn Cemetery, Wapakoneta.
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