Sylvia Joy Creamer

Sylvia Joy Creamer, 90, of Carroll Lutheran Village, Westminster, Maryland, passed peacefully from this life on September 29, 2022, surrounded by her loving family in her daughter’s home. Born October 2, 1931 in Reisterstown, Maryland, she was the eldest of four daughters to the late Reverend Edward A. Godsey, a Methodist minister, and Catherine V. (Delcher) Godsey. She graduated from Eastern High School (an all girls public high school) in 1949. Sylvia entered the State Teachers College at Towson where she majored in elementary education with an emphasis in the primary grades.

One week after graduating from college in 1953, Sylvia married Tyson (Pete) Creamer, who was serving in the United States Air Force. They immediately moved to Omaha, Nebraska where she taught 40 students in an AM kindergarten and 40 students in a PM Kindergarten class.

Pete made the Air Force a career which required the family to move about the country and across the pacific living in many places including Japan and Hawaii. Twenty five years later, after four children and a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology from the University of Hawaii, Sylva returned to Frederick, Maryland.

Sylvia accepted a position as a special education teacher at Thurmont Elementary. She taught throughout Frederick county in multiple schools for many years and her last assignment was teaching kindergarten at Woodsboro Elementary school, which she thoroughly enjoyed. Retirement for Sylvia and Pete was anything but sedentary as they became shepherds for a small flock of suffolk sheep in Walkersville, Maryland; neither had any experience with farming but wanted to give it a try. Sylvia was very active in the Maryland Sheep Breeders Association, volunteering at the Sheep and Wool Festival and The Great Frederick Fair. Together they shared their love of raising sheep with the community, regularly inviting children’s groups to visit the farm and taking lambs to elementary schools and daycare centers. Sylvia was an active member of Walkersville United Methodist Church in Walkersville Maryland and regularly played in the handbell choir. She also taught Sunday school and enjoyed being on the “oyster patting team” for the Annual Turkey and Oyster dinner held every November.

Sylvia was always a “glass half full” person finding the good in every situation and making many friends along the way. She loved life, was an honest and loving person, had a warm and caring personality and was a beam of sunshine when she walked into the room. She had a gorgeous smile and was truly a beauty with a big heart and a helping hand.

She is survived by her sisters Nancy Coats, Joann Crum and Susan Ridder and husband, Herb, all of Carroll Lutheran Village, Westminster, Maryland. Daughters Nancy Creamer Stannert and husband Michael of Fairfield, Pennsylvania, Catherine Creamer Zier of Woodsboro, Maryland and Ann Creamer McGreevy and husband Mike of Myersville, Maryland as well as 6 grandsons, 4 great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. Sylvia was preceded in death by infant son Benjamin Creamer, adult son Daniel Creamer, and husband Tyson H. Creamer.

A private graveside service for the immediate family will take place at Glade Cemetery in Walkersville Maryland where she will be laid to rest next to late husband, Tyson (Pete) Creamer.

A Celebration of Life service followed by fellowship in the social hall, will be held on Wednesday, October 5 at 11 A.M. at Walkersville United Methodist Church in Walkersville, Maryland.

In lieu of flowers, charitable donations may be made to Way Station, Hospice and Walkersville United Methodist Church.

Online condolences may be shared at www.keeneybasford.com