Obituary: Phyllis D. Guptil

August 21, 1927 – April 2, 2026

Phyllis D. Guptil.

It is with much sadness that we announce the passing of Phyllis D. Guptil on April 2, 2026, at the age of 98. She passed peacefully at home, surrounded by her family.

She was born on August 21, 1927, in Lawrence, Massachusetts, the only child of Alfred and Lena Hausler Dearden. She graduated from Johnson High School in North Andover at the age of 16. From there, she graduated from Tufts University with a double major in Sociology and Psychology and English education.

On September 9, 1950, Phyllis married Walter Guptil in North Andover, Massachusetts. They had three children: Debra Utton (Curtis) of Waterbury Center, Richard Guptil (Deena) of Bella Vista, Arkansas, and Janet Clemons (David) of Middlesex. She had four grandchildren: Allison Champlin of Waterbury, Megan Champlin of Tampa, Florida, Ben Andrews (Emily) of Waitsfield, and Matt Andrews of Fayston. Her great-grandchildren include: Ezra and Aaliyah Samuel (Allison), Ava Andrews (Ben), Molly and Hayden Andrews (Matt), Dimitrios, Isaiah, Faith, and Julian Silas (Megan).

After college, she worked for Vermont State Hospital in Waterbury (1948-49). Then, returning to Boston, during her husband’s deployment in the service, Phyllis was employed by the Department of Mental Health as a psychiatric social worker. She remained there for the next six years before moving back to Vermont. She and Walter built a house in Waterbury and settled down to raise their family.

She began her career in education in 1964. Waterbury Elementary School had won a large grant, and she was asked to set up a library for K-6 grades and became the librarian. Phyllis also was a judge for selecting books for the Dorothy Canfield Fisher book awards. In 1971, she received her Master’s Degree in Education from UVM. Phyllis served on the Waterbury school board for several years in the 1960s. In 1973, she transitioned to a sixth-grade teacher until she retired in 1989.

In the early 1960s, Phyllis resurrected the local Girl Scout troop. She and JoAnne Dumas worked hard to give the younger girls of Waterbury a chance to grow in learning and a sense of values.

Phyllis and family were members of Wesley Methodist Church. She was involved with the Rebeccas Women’s Club, helping with many activities.

In the mid-1980s, Phyllis and Walter purchased a home on a golf course in Wildwood, Florida, and became snowbirds. They both enjoyed golf immensely and were also members of Blush Hill Country Club. Phyllis was a super competitive bridge player and made many new and lasting friendships through that endeavor. Phyllis was also an avid reader until she lost her sight to macular degeneration and was declared legally blind. She then relied heavily on audio tapes for daily enjoyment.

In the later years, Phyllis enjoyed lunches with the retired teachers group, frequenting the creamee stand, long rides to nowhere, computer games, conversing with Alexa, watching Jeopardy, and playing a competitive game or two of Spite and Malice while enjoying a cocktail before dinner.

Phyllis lived alone in the “mother-in-law” side of the family home, while her granddaughter, Allison, lived in the adjoining space for the past 13 years, which allowed Phyllis to stay in her own home. Both Allison and Deb were key in allowing her to be as independent as possible, with daily assistance, companionship, love, and support.

We are especially grateful to the amazing caregivers who also helped Phyllis so much in the past six months. They were truly amazed at her crossword puzzle abilities, and even commented about her knowing words that only she would know.

Phyllis was predeceased by her husband, Walter, of 62 years who passed away in April 2013.

A service of celebration will be at the Waterbury Congregational Church on April 15 at 1 p.m. with a reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: Wesley Methodist Church,

P.O. Box 214, Waterbury, VT 05676.