Charlyn Alice Adams Sill
Charlyn Alice Adams Sill, 93, died on Monday (Aug. 6, 2012)
in North Newton, her residence of the past 10 years.
She was born to Florence and Thomas Adams, DDS in
Parkersburg, W.Va., where she was raised the eldest of three children. Charlyn
was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Dr. Webster H. Sill Jr.; parents;
and her brother, Dr. Charles Adams.
Charlyn Alice married Lt. Webster H. Sill Jr. USMC in 1943
during the hard days of World War II.
Charlyn began playing piano at a very early age and went on
to study music, graduating from Denison College with a BFA in music and then
onto Boston University, where she graduated with a MFA in music and organ. As a
loving wife and mother, she gathered her family for travel and living abroad in
the Philippines, India, Taiwan and Hawaii, as Webster's work took them to many
far off lands. Charyln made friends wherever she lived, learned the cooking of
the cultures, entertained foreign guests, and collected and studied primitive
and exotic instruments of every country she shared with Webster and their
children.
When Charlyn and Webster moved to Kansas in1951, she played
piano, organ, directed church choirs and was a rural school music teacher. Over
the years, Charlyn shared her musical talents as an organist and choir director
with more than a dozen different churches.
On a trip to England in 1960, Charlyn fell in love with
English handbells. Shortly after returning home, she had her own set of
beautiful shiny new English handbells. With her persuasive ability to get
anyone playing music, her talents were shared with many churches for more than
50 years from Kansas to South Dakota. Her handbell choirs ranged from children
to seniors, with her choirs playing in many handbell events at home or around
the country.
Charlyn loved her husband, her friends, her family,
entertaining and music.
Through her music and the dozens of close friends she made
in every new home, Charlyn was an inspired ambassador for the USA and worldwide
Christianity.
Charlyn is survived by her sister, Florence Adams of
Parkersburg, W.Va.; and her three married children, Susan and Pat Moore of Hesston,
Julie and Warren Sill of Boulder, Colo., and Diann and Web Sill of Gilpin
County, Colo. Charlyn's 12 grandchildren have given her 15 great-grandchildren.
Friends may call from 1 to 8 p.m. today (Aug. 8, 2012) at
Broadway Colonial Funeral Home in Newton, where the family will receive friends
between 6 and 8 p.m.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday (Aug. 9, 2012)
at First Christian Church, 102 E. First St., Newton, KS 67114. A graveside
service will follow at 11 a.m. Saturday (Aug. 11, 2012) at the Bluff View
Cemetery in Vermillion, S.D., where she will be laid to rest by her beloved
Webster.
Memorials may be made in Charlyn's name to First Christian
Church of Newton, or the Dr. Webster H. Sill Jr. Scholarship Fund at the
University of South Dakota in Vermillion.
Condolences may be left at www.broadwaycolonialfh.com.
Arrangements are by Broadway Colonial Funeral Home, 120 E. Broadway, Newton.
