Sylvia Spalding Weston

Sylvia Spalding Weston passed away on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2013, at age 91 at her home in Denton, Texas. Sylvia was born on Feb. 15, 1922, in Enid, Okla., to Edward Lindsay Spalding and LouEmma Rainey Spalding, and later became the matriarch of her family. She was raised, baptized and confirmed in the Episcopal Church in Enid. Sylvia's family moved to Elm Springs, Ark., when she was a junior in high school, where she excelled in academics and starred on Elm Springs winning girls' basketball team. She met Howard Lee Weston; they married when she graduated in 1939. Sylvia and Howard ventured out to Whittier, Calif., for several years with their two children, Vance Lee and Marilyn Weston. They later moved to Arlington, Texas, raised their children and both worked in the aircraft industry at Chance Vought in Grand Prairie, Texas. Sylvia progressed from a "Rosie the Riveter" to an executive secretary for a vice president at LTV. In 1976, they retired to their beloved farm in Cave Springs, Ark. They always had a wonderful garden, hay pastures and registered Black Angus cattle to enjoy. In 2005, Howard and Sylvia built an apartment onto their daughter's home in Denton, Texas, and moved there to be closer to their children. After 67 years of marriage, Sylvia was predeceased by her husband, Howard in 2006; her son, Vance died with cancer in 2011; and her brother, Philip Rainey Spalding also died with cancer. Sylvia was living with her daughter, Marilyn Weston Simms, where she died peacefully in her sleep with complications from a stroke. Scott was by her side when she took her last breath. Survivors include daughter, Marilyn; beloved grandson, Scott Andrew Simms, M.D., his wife, Misti Ladner Simms; and adored great-grandsons, Lewis Jedidiah (Jed) and Philip Wesley (Wes) Simms. Sylvia also leaves behind a very special daughter-in-law, Belinda Van Dyke Weston, and beloved grandsons, Lee Clifford Weston and Lane Martin Weston, who all live in Arlington, Texas. The family wishes to thank Sylvia's many adopted Denton friends, the Rev. Don Lee, pastor of First United Methodist Church, and Ann's Haven for the special care they provided alongside Dr. Scott Talbot. Her wishes were that, in lieu of flowers, friends consider a contribution to her great-grandsons' Scout Troop 65. Please make check payable to FUMC Denton: Boy Scout Fund, 201 S. Locust, Denton, TX 76201. Graveside services will be held at Elm Springs Cemetery, Elm Springs, Ark., at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 17, under the direction of Sisco Funeral Chapel of Springdale, with Arther Lee Galloway officiating. Online condolences may be made at www.mulkeymasondenton.com or at www.siscofuneral.com.