Stoevener, Sylva Espenscheid

Sylva Espenscheid Stoevener, 72, of Blacksburg, Va., died on Sunday, October 19, 2008, at Montgomery Regional Hospital. She was born January 25, 1936, to the late Morris B. and Cynthia L. Espenscheid in Denver, Colo., and grew up on the family farm in Wayne County, N.Y.

She studied home economics at Cornell University. While at Cornell she developed an interest in world cultures. She pursued those interests as well as her homemaking skills the rest of her life. She was employed in the Home Economics Extension work at the county level in New York state as well as Illinois. She retired from having served as a customer service representative for a local bank.

She is survived by her husband, Herbert H. Stoevener, of Blacksburg, Va.; her son, Ralph G. Stoevener, of Plattesville, Colo.; her daughter, Karen A. Stoevener, of Blacksburg, Va.; her brother Nelson M. Espenscheid, of Alton, N.Y.; three granddaughters, Cassie A. Stoevener, Morgan L. Stoevener, and Kersten L. Stoevener; and one greatgrandchild, Ryan L. Stoevener-Lucas.

She is a member of Luther Memorial Lutheran Church and a life member of Virginia Partners of the Americas.

A memorial service will be held 4 p.m. on Thursday, October 23, 2008, at Luther Memorial Lutheran Church in the sanctuary with the Rev. Gary Schroeder officiating. A reception will follow at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Herbert and Sylva Endowed Scholarship Fund. Payment should be made to the Virginia Tech Foundation and mailed to the Department Office, 216 Hutcheson Hall (0402), Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va. 24061. Arrangements by McCoy Funeral Home, Blacksburg, Va.