Sylvia Lucille George, 92, of Winner, SD, went peacefully home to be with the Lord on May 16, 2014, at the Winner Long Term Care Center. A memorial service will be held on July 12, 2014, at 11:00 AM at the Winner Church of the Nazarene. Sylvia was born on June 10, 1921, in Gas City, KS, to Archie Blevins and Mary Ellen (Webber) Cooper. She was the middle child of 5 girls and 2 boys, and enjoyed playing with her siblings, making doll clothes, and singing with them at home and at church. After graduating from high school in La Harpe, KS, Sylvia attended college classes at Mt. Zion Bible School in Ava, MO for one year. In 1941, Sylvia and her sister Betty moved to El Monte, CA to help their older brother Carroll and wife Maude with their new baby. She met the love of her life, Wilbur Leonard George, at church, and they were married on Christmas Day that same year. God blessed this union with 7 sons and 2 daughters. Sylvia loved being a mother. During her children's formative years, she was never too busy to spend time with them. She played ball, caught frogs and spiders, made doll clothes and paper dolls, and read to them with equal enthusiasm. She loved to have fun, and to this day, it is uncertain whether she learned the fine art of joking and "pranking" from her children, or if she taught them. When her youngest child went to school, she discovered the house was too quiet and she was not ready to retire her rocking chair, so she got her foster license, and for about the next ten or eleven years, cared for around thirty infants and toddlers. She was never more content than when she was cradling a little one in her arms. Sylvia loved gardening, sewing, crafts, and baking. She made many beautiful dresses, stuffed animals, rag dolls, doll furniture, and a variety of toys and gifts. She was also known for her wonderful homemade bread, and would often take a loaf, still warm from the oven, to someone who needed a little cheer. She was a wonderful cook, and spent many happy hours singing and whistling as she bustled around the kitchen, making delicious meals and favorite treats whenever the family was home. She also loved music, especially hymns. Sylvia played the violin, and also loved to sing. She and Wilbur sang duets at church quite often, blending her alto and his tenor in pretty harmony. Later, when she lived at Elder Inn, she and her 2 close friends, Anna Vrbsky and Helen Wiley, would sometimes sit in a nook in the hall, hymnbooks on their laps, singing their favorites. Sylvia had a strong faith in her Savior, and always made church a priority. She taught Sunday school, hosted the youth and other groups in her home, and directed the Christmas play for many years. She spent many hours teaching her children about God, leaving them a rich heritage of faith. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Wilbur of 59 years, infant son Steven Lee, son Michael, brother Carroll, sister-in-law Maude, sister Viola Croy, brother-in-law Commodore Croy, sister Thelma Greer, brother-in-law Harlod Greer, sister Cordelia Williams, and her sister-in-law Shirley Holman. She will be missed by her children, David (Lois) of Farmington, NM, Donald (Gail) of Darrington, WA, daughter-in-law Judi of Peyton, CO, Marvin (Betsy) of Colorado Springs, John (Cindy) of Colorado Springs, Jeanne (Ron) Snethen of Winner, SD, Charlie (Dee) of Ferndale, WA Julie Weaver of Springville, UT, son - in-law Mark Weaver of Colorado Springs, sister Betty (John) Croy, Wheatridge, CO, brother Kenneth (Doris) Holman of Broken Arrow, OK, brother- in-law Daniel Williams of Lenexa, KS, 27 grandchildren, 48 great- grandchildren, and a host of nephews, nieces, and friends.