Sylvia Vandegrift passed away peacefully, at Augusta Health Medical Center in Fishersville Va., on Feb. 4, 2023, with her son Bob and his wife Anne by her side. She was 95.
She was born on Long Island in Jamacia, N.Y., on Sept. 1, 1927, to the late Martin and Thora Drangsland. She is preceded in death by her beloved husband Arthur Vandegrift and sister Thelma Rhodes. She is survived by Robert (Bob) Vandegrift and his wife Anne, of Waynesboro, Va., sister Elsa Kristiansen, of Port Jefferson Station, N.Y., and several nieces and nephews.
Out of high school she worked in Manhattan, N.Y., for Shell Oil Company in Rockefeller Center with Jimmy Dolittle, of the Dolittle Raiders fame.
In 1955 she married “Artie” her life’s love of 54 years. Together they raised their son Bob. She was a true 1960’s working mom, supporting her son through a host of activities, and helping her husband with his appliance/toy store in Doylestown and later a dry-cleaning business they started in Montgomeryville.
In later years she was employed in the Registrar’s Office of what was then Delaware Valley College of Science and Agriculture, helping students get the most out of their time at the school. Her desire to help children came to play when she worked at Tabor Home for Children. She was always quick to lend a compassionate ear to the less fortunate children that lived there. Her last position before retirement was at Springhouse Publishing.
Sylvia was a resident of Doylestown for over 65 years, loved the people and culture of the area. She and Artie enjoyed traveling to new places and meeting new people.
Graveside service will be held Saturday, March 25, at 11 a.m. at the Doylestown Cemetery, 215 E. Court St., Doylestown, Pa.
Varcoe-Thomas Funeral Home of Doylestown, 334 N. Main St., Doylestown, PA 18901 is handling the arrangements.
Send condolences to www.varcoethomasfuneralhome.com.
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