Phyllis June (Enslin) Robart, 93, entered her heavenly home on Monday, June 19, 2023. She was the second daughter born to Marvin & Elizabeth (Emery) Enslin on March 25, 1930 in Wayne County, Pennsylvania.
Phyllis attended the National Bible Institute in New York City, where God began to soften her heart toward full-time Christian service. After surrendering to missions, Phyllis felt God’s specific calling to serve in Japan. She raised her support and traveled to Japan as a single missionary with Bible Protestant Missions. Phyllis met the love of her life, Richard (Dick) in language school in Japan, and they corresponded by mail while serving their first terms in separate areas of Japan. They married on June 18, 1961, in South Canaan, Pennsylvania and returned to the field together.
Richard & Phyllis served together in Yokaichiba, a rural village in Chiba-ken, Japan, until 1979 under Grace Missions. The Robarts used English language study to attract young people to their ministry, where they also offered Bible study. Both Dan and Mary Sue were born during their time in Japan, and the church they started saw the souls of many Japanese people turned to a saving knowledge of Christ.
After returning from the field, Phyllis taught kindergarten in a Christian school and loved her new role as grandma and great-grandma. In her 80s, she was still teaching two of her kindergarten-aged grandkids to read! She faithfully prayed for her kids and grandkids, and was so excited to hear every time a new great-grandchild was on the way! She traveled to Michigan, Texas, California, and Ohio for her grandkids’ weddings in the final decade of her life.
The mother and grandmother we knew always said what she thought, loved anything pink, and would talk to anyone about anything. Phyllis could get any nurse or doctor laughing with her. She always pointed out the person with the pink shoes or the pink earrings. If you asked her how she was doing, her answer was, “Pretty good, for an old lady!” She constantly read and shared encouraging books and articles with those around her. And more than anything, she longed to be with Jesus and Dick in heaven with every ounce of her being.
Phyllis is survived by her son, Daniel Sr (Rachel) of Gladstone, Missouri, her daughter, Mary Sue (Dan) Reed, of Midland, Michigan, twelve grand-children: Daniel Jr., Amanda, David, Taylor, Audrey, Trevor, Theron, Tasha, Samuel, Malachi, Esperanza, and Esther; and soon-to-be 23 great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her siblings, and many other friends and loved ones.
Mission work was an important part of Phyllis’ life. Contributions in her honor will be shared with Grace Ministries International (GMI) in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to further the Gospel’s reach.
Please help celebrate the life of Phyllis by sharing a memory or expressing your condolences to the family.
