She was born in Lewiston, Maine on June 5th, 1940 to Herman and Phyllis Walton. Sylvia graduated from Edward Little High School in 1958. On May 13th, 1960 she married Paul Crafts and moved to California. While Paul was serving in the United States Air Force, Sylvia was working as a secretary at Edwards Air Force Base. They remained there until 1968 when they made the cross country trek back to Maine.
Sylvia again found work with the government, as she became a secretary at Brunswick Naval Air Station. She left that position with the birth of her first child, Travis, in the early 1970s, and served as one of the greatest stay home mothers of all time - a job that she continued with the birth of her second son, Brandon in 1980. During the mid 1980s, Sylvia once again entered the workforce - this time as a secretary for the Lisbon Recreation Department, where she put to use the skills she honed while working for the Air Force on both coasts years prior. During that time with the recreation department, she handled office affairs, served as a liason to the public, and acted as a chaperone for many a rec. trip with countless number of children.
In 1989 she started secretarial duties for Lisbon Adult Education, where she worked until her retirement on September 27, 2012. While at Lisbon Adult Education, she organized graduations, bent over backwards to help students of all ages, and finally learned how to operate the security system for the building which plagued her for years. After her retirement, she was concerned with how she was going to spend her free time. She discovered tole painting, attended community meetings and gatherings, and spent time with her loved ones. However, what retirement really gave Sylvia was more of an opportunity to go to Las Vegas, which was her happy place. If there was an operating slot machine within 100 miles of wherever Sylvia was, rest assured she would have already been there or have made plans to do so. In addition to her love of slot machines, Sylvia loved finding a bargain. She relished in discovering treasures at yard sales, discount stores and auctions.
Sylvia was always ready to help those who needed it. On countless occasions she helped out friends, former students of Adult Ed., and family with both financial and emotional support - without care of repayment of any kind. She was a firm believer in the concept of “lifelong learning”. Over the years, she loved her pets - both domestic and wild. She would often feed the wild cats in the neighborhood by leaving food out for them. Her garden also provided a sense of enjoyment and pride for her, growing flowers and vegetables - most notably green beans for her grandpup Cooper who loved them.
She was predeceased by her parents, Phyllis and Herman Walton, her husband of 34 years, Paul Crafts, her son, Brandon Crafts and her sister-in-law Sheila Walton.
She is survived by her Son, Travis Crafts and his wife Kelly Crafts of Durham, her brother Charles Walton of Auburn, her sister Meredith Michaelis and her partner Bob Kelly of Auburn, and her nephew Michael Michaelis, his wife Jennifer Michaelis and their children of Auburn.
Sylvia’s family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the staff at Woodlands Senior Living in Lewiston for their unparalleled and exceptional care of Sylvia and to the staff at Androscoggin Home Healthcare and Hospice for their professionalism and dedication to Sylvia’s comfort.
“Mother is the name for God in the lips and hearts of little children” - William Makepeace Thackerary
Condolences and fond memories may be shared at www.crosmanfuneralhome.com
Visiting hours will be held at the funeral home on Friday April 30, 2021 from 4-7pm. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the funeral home can only have 50 people inside at one given time. Interment will take place at Gracelawn Memorial Park in Auburn. Arrangements are under the care of Crosman Funeral Home, Cremation and Monument Services 40 Main St. Lisbon Falls, 353-4951.
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