Sylvia was born on November 17, 1932, in Binghamton, New York, to Ray and Gladys Dillenbeck. She grew up in a busy family-owned florist business, Dillenbeck’s Flowers and Greenhouses, in Whitney Point and Johnson City, New York. She was the youngest of five children, with three brothers and one sister. All five siblings were talented musicians. Known as the “Dillenbeck Melody Makers”, they traveled with evangelists, from Maine to Florida, playing gospel music in hundreds of churches until Sylvia was in her early teens. Sylvia began charming the crowds when she was 2 years old by climbing onto her conductor’s box and conducting the instrumental group with her baton (setting the tempo and keeping everyone together); she later played the clarinet, accordion and harp.
Sylvia met Richard “Dick” Geide when she and a girlfriend went on a double-date with two lucky fellows and found that they were actually more interested in each other’s date. On her next date, Sylvia and Dick paired up. They were engaged soon after. They married on June 7, 1952, at Main Street Baptist Church in Binghamton, New York. After Dick was discharged from the Air Force in 1954, they moved to Angola, Indiana, where Dick went to engineering school. Their first child, Rick, was born in Indiana in 1957. Three months after Rick’s birth, they moved to Wichita, Kansas, where Dick worked for Cessna Aircraft until he retired in 1989. After their move to Wichita, Sylvia gave birth to twins, Ray and Roy, in 1959, and to her daughter, Diantha, in 1960. Sylvia and Dick worked with the church youth group when their children were young. She and her best friend, Mildred, also served together in Child Evangelism Fellowship, church children’s ministries, and neighborhood Good News Clubs, teaching children and leading many to the Lord.
Sylvia was a dedicated, fun, and loving mother and grandmother and is adored by her family and many friends. She worked off and on as a florist throughout her life. She also worked in tax preparation and insurance. She enjoyed music, flowers, crafts, knitting, scrapbooking, sewing and quilting. She is also known for her fondness for Taco Bell, Diet Coke, ice cream and Reese’s peanut butter cups. She made quilts for the past 45 years, blessing many family members, friends, pastors, missionaries, and soldiers with her creative talent. A gifted musician, she played the piano and/or organ at many of the churches they attended, sang in choirs and ensembles, and played the harp at home and for special occasions. Her favorite Bible verse was Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Sylvia was very involved in church ministries at Grace Baptist Church for 14 years (1958-1972), Messiah Baptist for 16 years (1973-1989), First Bible Baptist for 16 years (1989-2005), and Celebration Baptist for 12 years (2005-2017), and has attended Sharon Baptist since 2017.
Sylvia is now reunited in Heaven with her parents, Ray and Gladys Dillenbeck, brothers Lowell, Louis, and Sonny Dillenbeck, and best friend, Mildred Janzen.
Sylvia is survived by her SISTER: Alice Campbell of Longwood FL; her HUSBAND, Dick Geide of Wichita KS; 4 CHILDREN: Rick (Ruth) Geide of Piedmont SC, Ray (Gerlie) Geide of Wichita KS, Roy (Nona) Geide of Taylorsville KY, and Diantha (Doug) Cavin of Inver Grove Heights MN; 12 GRANDCHILDREN: (Rick’s son) Ryan (Grace) Geide of Taylors SC; (Ray’s kids) Anthony (Becca) Geide of Maricopa AZ, Jenny (Joe) Dinsmore of Wichita KS, Jessica Geide of Wichita KS; (Roy’s kids) Phillip Geide of Taylorsville KY, Crystal (Cooper) Labenski of Shenandoah Junction WV; (Diantha’s kids) Cassandra (Daniel) Doan of Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam, Casey Cavin of Inver Grove Heights MN; (Nona’s kids) Bryan Varner of Louisville KY, Teresa (Steve) Bliven of Waxhaw NC, Allen Varner of Louisville KY, and Tessa Varner of Taylorsville KY; 13 GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN: (Rick’s grandkids) James and Emma Geide of Taylors SC; (Ray’s grandkids) Amelia and Elliott Geide of Maricopa AZ; Baby Boy Dinsmore of Wichita, KS; (Roy and Nona’s grandkids) Benjamin, Colton and Elliott Labenski of Shenandoah Junction WV; Matthew, Madeline, and Abby Bliven of Waxhaw NC; Dylan Varner of Louisville, KY; and (Diantha’s granddaughter) Lydia Linh Doan of Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam; and many nieces, nephews, and dear friends.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, May 21, 2020 from 11:00 to 1:00 at Advantage Funeral, 4408 W. Central, Wichita, Kansas, 67212. Visitation is limited to 10 people at a time; face masks are required and will be available at the visitation. Flowers, cards and/or memorials may be sent to Advantage Funeral. A graveside service will be held at 2:00 at White Chapel Memorial Gardens, 1806 N. Oliver, Wichita, Kansas, with Pastor James Albers of Celebration Baptist Church officiating. We plan to stream the 2:00pm service on Facebook Live on Sylvia Dillenbeck Geide’s account.
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