Sylvia Axah Paddubny

Sylvia Axah (Pippin) Paddubny, currently residing in Bethel Heights, Arkansas, was born April 29,1926 in Henryetta, Oklahoma to Arthur and Jewell Pippin. She passed away peacefully on May 29, 2019 in her home at Bethel Heights, at the age of 93 years and 1 month, with her two daughters by her side. She was a hard worker, loved her family and friends, believed in spreading sunshine and laughter and loved the Lord with all her heart. Her nickname was "Sunny" because of her beautiful loving spirit which enriched the lives of all who knew her. Sylvia said the best advice her mother gave her was, "Don't curse, be honest and treat others the way you want to be treated." She told us the best advice her father gave her was, "Don't lie, steal or cheat." And the best advice she wanted to leave for her family and friends was, "Always keep God in your life!"
She did her best to keep these values throughout her life wherever she lived and worked. At age 14, she picked cotton for $2.00 for a hundred pounds, at age 15 she got a job as a carhop at a drive-in hamburger place making 10 cents an hour, 20 hours a week and received $2.50 each week. When Sylvia was 17, she went with Faith Thompson to Oklahoma City and worked at the Kingkade Hotel for 2 free meals a day and $12 a week. She saved her money so she could return home to Henryetta every other weekend and see her family. On one of these weekend trips going home, on a double decker bus full of soldiers, she met the love of her life, Walter Paddubny. She sat down beside him and they talked a bit. When the bus stopped for a break, he asked her if he could buy her a cup of coffee and a piece of apple pie. She replied, "I don't drink coffee, but I'll take the apple pie." He wasn't about to let this lovely woman get away, and so got her address and wrote to her. However, the following week, Sylvia moved with her family to California to work at a defense plant, and she did not receive his letter until it was forwarded to California the next year. When she wrote him back, he traveled to California to see her and the family again. Sylvia was 18 when he asked her to marry him, which she did two weeks later after returning to Henryetta, Oklahoma at the Church of Christ on July 26, 1945.They were married for over 59 years when he preceded her in death on August 21, 2004, but they have found each other again in heaven.

Sylvia found joy in helping others with her loving hands and hard work. She used her gifts from the Lord to enrich our lives through the cakes she made, clothing she sewed, Bible School curriculum she wrote and taught, oil paintings she created, meals she prepared, houses she cleaned, the sick and hurting souls she helped to heal, Children's Bible Hour Puppet Ministry, crafts and crocheted gifts and cards she mailed, and especially the time she spent with family and grandkids, giving of her love unconditionally. Her favorite Bible verse was "I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

From Sylvia and Walter's marriage, they were blessed with two daughters, Shirley and Sharon, 8 grand children, 18 great grandchildren, and 3 great-great grandchildren. She is survived by her daughters and their husbands, Shirley and Bobby Hill, and Sharon and Bill Fleck; two brothers and their wives, Les and Charlotte Pippin, Don and Frances Pippin, Sister-in-laws, Carolyn Pippin and Rose Paddubny; her grandchildren, Billy & Nikki Fleck, Sherri & J.B. Aycock, Jon & Jami Bryan, Jason & Beth Fleck, Deborah & Troy Blankenship, DeeDee & Jay Knight, Michael & Kristin Hill, Scott & Ashlee Hill and Bruce Jordan; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends whom she loved with all her heart. She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter Paddubny, parents, Arthur & Jewell Pippin, two sisters Dorthy and Leona Thompson, brother, Bill Pippin, and two great granddaughters, Victoria Leigh Jordan and Savannah Reagan. Pallbearers will be Jon Bryan, Jason Fleck, Michael Hill, Scott Hill, Jay Knight and Bruce Jordan.

The funeral will be held on Tuesday, June 4, 2019 at 10:00 am at Integrity Funeral Services, 410 E. Trudgeon St. in Henryetta, Oklahoma officiated by Bobby Hill. Burial will be at 2:00 pm at Fort Gibson National Cemetery on the same day.