Obituary of Grace Pittard Sydnor

Grace Allen Pittard Sydnor, 101, passed away peacefully on Monday, February 26, 2018, at Westminster Canterbury of Lynchburg. Born in Clarksville, VA, on May 16, 1916 to Luther Allen and Grace Jones Pittard, she graduated from Clarksville High School and in 1938 received her B.S. degree in primary education with a minor in English, from Longwood College. Grace taught second grade in Burkeville, VA, before marrying Ashby Kendall Sydnor in 1941. They settled in Lynchburg, where Kendall worked to build up Virginia Dunbrik Company-Lynchburg Block. During Kendall's World War II service in the Pacific, Grace and her young son, Kendall, Jr., lived in Clarksville but returned to Lynchburg upon Kendall Sr.'s discharge from the navy at the end of the war. At the time of her husband's death in 2012, they had been married for 71 years. While Grace was busy as a full-time homemaker, caring for her family, she also found time for garden club, bridge, horseback riding, sewing, school volunteering, Women's Club of Lynchburg, Jamestowne Society and involvement at the family's church, Westminster Presbyterian. In their retirement Grace and Kendall spent winters at their second home in Winterhaven, FL, where they welcomed family and friends. Over the years they visited all 50 states and were world travelers. Grace was preceded by her husband, Kendall, two sons, Henry and Beverly, and her beloved siblings, Harriett Pittard Beales and Henry Sims Pittard. She is survived by her three children: son Kendall (Kit) and two daughters, Granville/G.G. Hill (Fred) and Judith McNeel (Douglas); five grandchildren: Jennifer Fessler (Adam), Frederick Hill (Julia), Sims Osborne (Philip), Lewis McNeel (Bekah), Suzanne Wadsworth (Scooter): seven great-grandchildren: Lily Fessler, Alexandra and Vera Hill, Joy Osborne, Luna Wadsworth, Moira and Asa McNeel, and a multi-generational host of loving nieces, nephews and friends. The family would like to thank Westminster Canterbury's nursing and administrative staff for their devoted care of Grace. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Lynchburg College's A. Kendall & Grace P. Sydnor Study Abroad Scholarship, Westminster Presbyterian Church's Organ and Music Fund, Westminster Canterbury's Fellowship Fund or Employee Education Fund, or a charity of your choice. A graveside service will be held on Saturday, March 3, at 12:00 at Spring Hill Cemetery, with visitation following at Westminster Canterbury's Commons at 1:30. Diuguid Funeral Service (Wiggington) is assisting the family.