Sylvia A. Chamberlin, 87, the widow of the Rev. William Lee Chamberlin, passed away on Aug. 16, 2014, at McKinley Health Center, Brookville.
Born Jan. 15, 1927, in Detroit, Mich., she was a daughter of the late Chesleigh L. and Vesta R. Lowry Davis, who died in childbirth. She was raised by her stepmother, Mae LeBritton Davis.
She graduated from Brookville High School where she met her late husband. They were married on Dec. 31, 1947, in Hazen, PA. Together they bought and operated the family dairy farm in Munderf. In 1969, Bill began full-time ministry with United Methodist Church, with Sylvia being his faithful support in the ministry.
They served the Luthersburg Charge, Coalport Charge, Clymer Charge, Meade Chapel and Port Barnett churches, and the Clarion River Charge until 2001.
Sylvia was a member of the Emerickville United Methodist Church. She was compassionate and caring, volunteering to help make the community a better place to live. She helped establish the local library in Coalport, volunteered with Salvation Army in Clymer, assisted in operating an after-school ministry for many years and opened her home to many in need.
Sylvia prayed daily for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed reading, puzzles, afternoon tea and being on her porch swing. She was rarely seen in public without one of her trademark hats.
She was preceded in death by her husband and a sister, Mary Vesta Irvin.
She is survived by a brother, T. Chesleigh Davis of Girard; five children: V. Lucinda "Cindy" Norman of Boynton Beach, Fla., W. Jay (Linda) Chamberlin of Brookville, Kenneth L. (Ellen) Chamberlin of Brockway, Nancy C. (Robert) Sprowls of Manheim, and Gary B. (Anita) Chamberlin of Basel, Switzerland; 17 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Friends were received at the McKinney Funeral Home in Brookville. A Celebration of Life service was held Aug. 19 at the Emerickville United Methodist Church with the Rev. Robert Zilhaver and the Rev. David Chin officiating. Burial was in Richardsville Cemetery in Warsaw Township, Jefferson County.
In lieu of flowers, the family requested memorial donations in Sylvia's memory be sent to either the "CLC Russian Bibles for Belarus Project," CLC Ministries International, Box 1449, Fort Washington, PA 19034, or to WRC Senior Services, 985 Route 28, Brookville, PA 15825.