Sylvia Wilker

Sylvia Lysle Clinkscales Wilker, 88, passed away peacefully on Monday, June 9, 2008, at her home, just as she wanted. Sylvia was born on May 28, 1920 in Louise, Texas to Frost Hawthorne and Lysla Drake Rice Clinkscales. The family moved back to Idaho during the Great Depression, and Sylvia was raised in St. Anthony, where she lived until she graduated from high school. Sylvia was active in basketball and singing. Sylvia's parents moved with her to Pocatello so that she could attend ISU, or the University of Idaho, Southern Branch as it was known then. She attended for one year then and took many classes in her 60s. Sylvia went to work at Kraft Cheese Company. There she met Charles Roland Wilker and they married on January 30, 1942 in the Salt Lake, Utah LDS Temple. Roland passed away on January 1, 1980. Sylvia and Roland had nine children, all surviving, including six daughters: Nancy Claire (DeWayne) Bailey, Sandy, Utah; Patricia Wilker, San Jose, California; Susan (Joe) Saucedo, Los Banos, California; Carla (Russ) Richins, Animas, New Mexico; Sylvia (Warren) Dieffenbach, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Beverly Wilker, Pocatello, Idaho, and three sons: David L. Wilker, Pocatello, Idaho; Johnathan R. (Elaine) Wilker, Pocatello, Idaho; and Joseph C. (Vickie) Wilker, Provo, Utah. Sylvia was blessed with 16 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. When three of her daughters went on missions at the same time, Sylvia went back to work, first at Lamb Weston potato processing plant, and then at Bannock County highway shop until she retired. Sylvia was an amazing mom. She was happy and upbeat. She was always learning and taught her children to love to learn. She loved hymns and passed on that love to her children. Sylvia was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served in many varied callings over her lifetime in the Relief Society and Primary. She taught Scouts for many years. She led music in church and choir for decades. Sylvia served two missions: the first a proselyting mission to Arizona, and the second, a family history mission at the Granite Vault in Salt Lake City, Utah. An accomplished singer with a lovely alto voice, Sylvia had such a broad range that she was able to sing soprano and tenor also. She could easily harmonize and sang solos, duets, in larger groups, and in choirs. She constantly sang around the house. Sylvia frequently sang solos and duets in her church until she was 86. Sylvia had a sharp wit and delightful sense of humor, which tickled many who knew her. She loved to quilt and sew and produced myriad blankets and quilts over the years for family and friends. Sylvia will be remembered for her zest for life and her absolutely gorgeous smile. Sylvia was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; two sisters, Eileen Birch and Arleigh Clinkscales (infant); and two brothers, Frost Hawthorne Clinkscales, Jr. and Burton Rice Clinkscales. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 14, 2008, at 11 a.m. at the Cedar Street LDS Chapel (550 W. Cedar), with Bishop William E. Winn, Highland 5th Ward, officiating. Interment will be in Rest Lawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Friday, June 13, 2008 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Colonial Funeral Home, 2005 S. Fourth Ave, Pocatello and from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 14, 2008 at the Cedar Street LDS Chapel. The family would like to give special thanks to Arlene Moore, Teri Roderick, Eugenia (Gina) Cummins, and Tom Sutton. Sylvia dearly loved each of them. We will always be grateful for the kind and tender care they gave her during the last year and a half of her life.