Obituary

Charlyn Alice Adams Sill

Obituary

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.