Phyllis A. West

Phyllis A. West, 86, of Topeka passed away on Thursday, October 9, 2025.

Phyllis was born on November 8, 1938, in Chanute, Kansas, to Sherman “Duke” and Lodicia “Peggy” (Wiggins) Cawthorn. She spent her early years in Chanute, Kansas City, and Atchison, where she graduated from Atchison High School in 1957.

In 1960, Phyllis moved to Topeka, where she began her career with Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, working there until 1973. In 1966, she married Howard West. After moving to Hoyt in 1972, she balanced caring for their daughter, Robyn, with serving as the City Clerk of Hoyt, a position she held until 1983.

Phyllis returned to full-time work, first with Lewis Toyota (1983–1987), then with Lockton Insurance in downtown Topeka (1987–1992). When Lockton closed their Topeka office, she joined WIBW, where she worked in accounting and later as Assistant to the General Manager, retiring in 1999.

Even in retirement, Phyllis remained active, working part-time with Census 2000, as an assistant to a member of the Kansas Legislature, and later clerical work at the Kansas Attorney General’s Office.

Phyllis loved watching and attending theater performances. She was especially proud of her work with the Topeka Civic Theatre, where she volunteered for more than 20 years and was honored as Volunteer of the Year in 2002–2003. She also volunteered for several political campaigns over the years. She donated her time as the church secretary for several years in the 1980s at Hoyt Baptist Church.

Phyllis loved knitting, her dogs, fast cars, and traveling. Her adventures took her on an Alaskan cruise to Denali National Park, a two-week vacation in Ireland, and memorable trips to San Francisco and Cancun. She loved regaling people with many stories of driving her cars fast. Her two favorite cars were one of her first cars, a 1956 Ford Thunderbird and her last car, a 2001 Acura RSX Type-S.

Phyllis was preceded in death by husband, Howard West, and by her parents, Sherman “Duke” and Lodicia ”Peggy” Cawthorn and stepmother Amelia Cawthorn.

Phyllis leaves behind her daughter, Robyn West of Chicago, Illinois.

A graveside service and interment will be held at Rochester Cemetery on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Helping Hands Humane Society, at www.hhhstopeka.com.

Messages of condolence and shared memories may be left at www.ppdfuneral.com.