At 102, WWII Navy nurse Phyllis Ockerman continues to inspire and serve
Oct 07, 2024 03:54PM ● By Megan McKellar
Phyllis Ockerman on her 100th birthday in June 2022. (Photo credit Joy Gough)
Phyllis Ockerman, a 102-year-old Sandy resident and World War II Navy nurse, has led a life defined by resilience and service, inspiring both her family and community.
Ockerman was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan. After graduating as a nurse, she enlisted in the Navy where she cared for injured servicemen during World War II. Unlike many who were stationed in Europe, Ockerman tended to the wounded from the Pacific Theater, working in Norfolk, Virginia, Great Lakes, Illinois, and Corvallis, Oregon.
After the war, Ockerman attended Northwestern University in Chicago, becoming a physical therapist in addition to her nursing credentials. Later, she took care of veterans at a hospital in Seattle and also volunteered at assisted living facilities, helping patients with physical therapy.
Ockerman has been actively involved in the PEO (Philanthropic Educational Organization), which supports women’s education through scholarships and other initiatives. This commitment to education has rippled through her family, with her granddaughter becoming a biomedical engineer, thanks in part to a PEO scholarship.
“She’s just stayed really active her whole life in philanthropy,” Mary Barton, Ockerman’s daughter, said of her mother.
One of the highlights of Ockerman’s service was being honored at the Utah Capitol last fall for Veterans Day. Recognized by Gov. Spencer Cox, she stood as the only female World War II veteran from Utah at the ceremony.
Barton is a witness of her mother’s lifelong dedication to service, not just in her professional life but in her personal endeavors. “She just really believes in service,” Barton said.
While Barton was a special education teacher, Ockerman volunteered in the classroom every week. “The kids just absolutely loved her,” Barton said.
Ockerman eventually settled down in Sandy, where she chose her current home because of its proximity to her great-grandchildren’s elementary school so that they could “walk to her house after school and have milk and cookies with her.”
“She just has this personality of, ‘I’m grateful that I can walk and I’m grateful that I can make muffins and take them to my neighbors.’ She just has that kind of an attitude,” Barton said. “I think that’s probably helped her her whole life.”
Barton also believes that her mother’s longevity can be attributed to her core values: “She values friendships and looks for the good in others and in life. She loves her family and they know she is always there to support and encourage them. She expresses appreciation and that has been a vital part of lasting relationships and loving examples. She often says it’s so important to let people know you appreciate them.”
Ockerman has also prioritized her physical health throughout her life, particularly through regular stretching. “People have asked how she has such longevity, and I think part of it is because she’s a physical therapist,” Barton said. “She’s done stretching exercises her whole life. Even now, she does stretching exercises every morning for a
half hour.” λ