Sylvia Bowden Strickland
December 16, 1938 – June 15, 2022
RALEIGH – Sylvia Bowden Strickland, 83, passed away Wednesday. She was born in Raleigh, NC, to the late A.C. & Frances Bowden. Sylvia’s greatest love was always her family, followed by her love to travel to show God’s creations to as many as possible. She graduated from Creedmoor High School and married the love of her life, Ken, during her senior year.
She was a charter member of First Baptist Church in Butner, NC, and a longtime member of Pilot Baptist Church in Zebulon, NC, where she helped establish and served as the director of the Pilot Baptist Day Care Ministry, served as director of the Sunshine Club, and was a Sunday School Assistant Teacher.
In addition to being a devoted Army wife for 23 years, Sylvia served as the Vice President of Protestant Women Churches in Europe. She also attended Atlantic Beauty Cosmetology in Durham and Bruno’s Advanced Cosmetology School in Canada. After closing her salon, she worked as a seamstress and then attended the Wilton School of Culinary Art specializing in cake decorating and was inducted into the Wilton Method Teacher Hall of Fame in 1984. She ended her career as the owner of Country Cottage Tours, which she operated for 37 years.
Sylvia is survived by her husband of 65 years, Kenneth; sons, Ken Strickland (Cynthia) and Ronnie Strickland (Sandy); grandsons, Chad Strickland, Blake Strickland, Michael Strickland (Christine), and Connor Strickland; and brother, Deuard Bowden (Marie).
Visitation 12:30-1:45 pm, Friday, followed by funeral at 2pm, both at Strickland Funeral Home, 211 W. Third St., Wendell, NC. A private family burial following the service.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to:
Pilot Baptist Church
Basketball Fund
8103 NC-39
Zebulon, NC 27597
5 Comments
It is a great loss to those of us here that Syliva has passed; it is a gift to God where she now resides. God will give His Comfort to the family and friends Sylvia gathered around her during her fulfilling lifetime. She will be missed.
We are so sorry for your loss and we pray that Aunt Sylvia has finally some rest. We will always remember her smiling face and the way she made you feel welcomed.
Ken, John and I are so sorry to hear of Sylvia’s passing. There are no words that can offer you any comfort at this time, but knowing that she is now resting in God’s arms and in a place of no pain or sorrow. Please know that you and your family will be in our thoughts and prayers for the coming days and weeks. So often Ken I think back on the trip I took with you and Sylvia and all the rest of the folks from Country Cottage Tours and smile with fondness at the treasured memories. It was the best tour I ever did, because of the wonderful friends that I made. Memories are so important Ken and you must have so many wonderful memories of such a full rich life. Wish I could drop in for coffee but know that my heart will be there with you tomorrow.
Dear Ken, We feel so blessed that we got to know you and Sylvia. So happy that we were able to go on trips with Cottage Tours (still love my Amish quilts). Sylvia was a very special person. Please know that our prayers and thoughts are with you. May God’s loving arms surround you with peace and comfort. Love, Carl and Linda
My condolences to her family are in a wonderful place called heaven today.
Rest in peace
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