On August 24, 1946, Phyllis Arlene (Rowell) Walk was born in Deer Creek, Illinois to Floyd Rowell and Louise Wegman Rowell. She was raised in the Apostolic Christian faith. She was a member of her high school basketball team that won a state championship. Phyllis became a nurse at Methodist Hospital School of Nursing in Peoria, Illinois. She was a critical care nurse and supervisor at the University of Iowa. Phyllis taught nursing at Northwestern University Wesley-Passavant School of Nursing, Chicago, Illinois.
On June 1, 1974, Phyllis married David J. Walk in Iowa City, Iowa. She taught nursing at the Lutheran School of Nursing in Moline, Illinois. Phyllis received an MSN from Rush University in Chicago, Illinois. Over the next several years Phyllis was a critical care supervisor at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Indiana, and Muskogee General Hospital in Muskogee, Oklahoma. She started at Baylor University Medical Center as a critical care supervisor.
Phyllis became the senior vice president responsible for five hospitals. She finished her career as a Senior Vice President/Chief Nursing Officer for all Baylor Health Care Systems. During her career, she was awarded a Johnson & Johnson Fellowship at The Wharton School of The University of Pennsylvania.
After retirement, Phyllis did some consulting work for hospitals around the United States. She did a medical mission in Bulgaria. Being an Iowa farm girl she enjoyed gardening by becoming a Texas Master Gardner. Phyllis established the “Shots for Kids” into Rockwall County’s “Shoes for Kids” campaign. She helped conduct estate sales. Phyllis enjoyed antiquing with short Sherry and wheelchair Dorene. Phyllis loved her fur babies Willie Nelson and Alphie .
She was preceded in death by her mother Louise Wegman Rowell and her father Floyd B. Rowell, sister Linda Gerst, one niece, and two nephews.
Phyllis is survived by brother John Rowell, sister Barbara Moser, one niece, and 11 nephews. A celebration of Phyllis’ life will take place 2:00pm Friday, July 26, 2024, at Reflections at Rest Haven Funeral Home – Rockwall location.
On June 1, 1974, Phyllis married David J. Walk in Iowa City, Iowa. She taught nursing at the Lutheran School of Nursing in Moline, Illinois. Phyllis received an MSN from Rush University in Chicago, Illinois. Over the next several years Phyllis was a critical care supervisor at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Indiana, and Muskogee General Hospital in Muskogee, Oklahoma. She started at Baylor University Medical Center as a critical care supervisor.
Phyllis became the senior vice president responsible for five hospitals. She finished her career as a Senior Vice President/Chief Nursing Officer for all Baylor Health Care Systems. During her career, she was awarded a Johnson & Johnson Fellowship at The Wharton School of The University of Pennsylvania.
After retirement, Phyllis did some consulting work for hospitals around the United States. She did a medical mission in Bulgaria. Being an Iowa farm girl she enjoyed gardening by becoming a Texas Master Gardner. Phyllis established the “Shots for Kids” into Rockwall County’s “Shoes for Kids” campaign. She helped conduct estate sales. Phyllis enjoyed antiquing with short Sherry and wheelchair Dorene. Phyllis loved her fur babies Willie Nelson and Alphie .
She was preceded in death by her mother Louise Wegman Rowell and her father Floyd B. Rowell, sister Linda Gerst, one niece, and two nephews.
Phyllis is survived by brother John Rowell, sister Barbara Moser, one niece, and 11 nephews. A celebration of Phyllis’ life will take place 2:00pm Friday, July 26, 2024, at Reflections at Rest Haven Funeral Home – Rockwall location.
