Phyllis S. Buckwalter MD

Buckwalter, MD Phyllis S. (nee Szolack) Age 94, a trailblazer in women's medical care, passed away September 7, 2025, surrounded by her loving family at home in Ann's Choice Senior Living Community in Warminster, PA, five months short of her 95th birthday. Phyllis was born on a then rural northeast Philadelphia farm where her father worked as a farm hand. At age two, she and her family moved to a farm purchased by her father in Newtown, PA. Every day after school she donned overalls and helped with crops in the field. Her father, Joseph Szolack, immigrated alone to America from Poland at age 15. Her mother, Pauline Kowalski Szolack, grew up in a Polish-American community in New York State. An excellent student, Phyllis' teachers encouraged her to become a physician, which her parents supported with enthusiasm. Phyllis attended Penn State in pre-med, graduating in 1952. While at Temple Medical School, she met Richard, her future husband, in first-year anatomy lab. Richard and Phyllis were engaged at Christmas in their third year of medical school and were married on June 2, 1956. After graduation, they interned at Lankenau Hospital in suburban Philadelphia. Female physicians were extremely rare at the time. Only six women were members of the 1956 Temple Medical School graduating class. After their internship, Richard's three-year U.S. Navy tour took them to primitive Vieques, Puerto Rico, where Phyllis volunteered at the equally primitive local hospital and assisted with tonsillectomies. Their next stop was Camp Lejeune, N.C., where they started a family with first child Randy. After Richard's discharge from the Navy in 1960, they moved to Horsham, PA, and opened a home-based family medical practice. Phyllis became one of the few women pioneers practicing medicine in Southeastern Pennsylvania. In Horsham, the family grew with the birth of Diane, Cindi and Dave, and their medical practice expanded over the next 56 years. Phyllis was loved by patients within her specialty female practice. Her kindness, compassion and humility as a physician created a loyal following. In many cases, patients visited her office for 20, 30 and even 40 years, often through two or three generations of a family. Three of her patients made regular visits for the entire duration of her 56-year career. At the age of 85, Phyllis made a house call to a long-time 96-year-old patient, possibly setting a record in doctor-patient relations. Phyllis was actively involved in her children's parent teacher organization and other school activities, volunteered on the board of the American Cancer Society and, as a longtime member, served at Supplee Presbyterian Church in Maple Glen, PA, as an elder, deacon and Sunday school teacher. Everyone who met Phyllis felt instantly at ease and admired her gracious, kind and loving manner. A wonderful host and cook, family and friends enjoyed many happy gatherings where everyone was welcome. Always impeccably dressed, Phyllis was beautiful inside and out, and a wonderful role model. More than words could ever express, Phyllis as Richard's lifetime medical and marital partner was the absolute love of his life. When Richard was hospitalized and his survival was in doubt, Phyllis, at age 74, stepped in and fully maintained their practice by herself for six months until Richard recovered. She will be missed beyond words by her family, but especially by her loving husband Richard, with whom she shared 69 years of marriage. Phyllis absolutely treasured the annual Ocean City, N.J., summer vacation with all four generations of their family. Phyllis is survived by her husband Richard; their four children - Randy Buckwalter (Tammie), Diane Lapidus (Rob), Cindi Buckwalter (Bob Stanton) and Dave Buckwalter (Maggie) - her sister, Alfreda Bruen; eight grandchildren; and six great grandchildren, as well as eight nieces and nephews. Her sister, Kathryn Adams, preceded her in passing. A private family-only burial service was held at Washington Crossing National Cemetery, located on the same road less than one mile north of her ancestral home, which still stands today. A Memorial Service and Celebration of Phyllis' life will be held at Ann's Choice Senior Living Community in Warminster, PA, on October 10, 2025, at 11 A.M., with friends to be received from 10 to 11 A.M. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Phyllis' memory to Supplee Presbyterian Church, 855 East Welsh Road, Maple Glen, PA 19002 or the Ann's Choice Scholars Fund, 20000 Ann's Choice Way, Philanthropy Department, Warminster, PA 18974.