Sylvia Jane Rawlings

Sylvia was born on September 26, 1936 in Otisco, New York. She inherited her Heavenly Home on January 20, 2026, at age 89. Sylvia was born into a devout Christian family and was taught early the importance of a life of goodness and usefulness as well as the value of hard work on the family dairy farm. She believed all of her accomplishments in life flowed from a decision she made at 8 years of age, when she received Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. This life-changing event occurred at the First Baptist Church of Skaneateles, New York, and this was also where she was baptized. Her family moved to Arizona from New York for her mother’s health when Sylvia was 12. She excelled in school from an early age and graduated with honors from high school in Casa Grande, Arizona, in 1954. She attended Bob Jones University and again graduated with honors in 1957. It was at Bob Jones that she met and fell in love with her future husband, William Harold Rawlings. They were married on November 1, 1957, at Lockland Baptist Church (Later known as Landmark) in Lockland, Ohio. From that union five children were born: Jonathan, James, Catherine, Joseph, and Ruth. She also had 17 grandchildren and a host of great grandchildren. Sylvia was an outstanding school teacher during her working career. She taught all grades, with high school being her favorite. Former students at Landmark Christian School still tell how she spiritually impacted their lives. Following her teaching career, Sylvia worked at General Electric where she facilitated Leadership Training for new engineers. She was also a featured speaker at many women’s events in various churches. She and her husband, Harold, led several tour groups to Israel as well as other countries. She was a devoted pastor’s wife to her husband, Harold, both during his six years at Bible Baptist Church in Maplewood, Missouri, and then for thirty-eight years at Landmark Church in Cincinnati. Sylvia is survived by her husband, Harold, and younger sisters, Patty Currie and Yvonne Gilbert. A Memorial Service in Sylvia’s honor will be held January 28th at 11:30 am at New Life Chapel, 8655 Cincinnati Dayton Road, West Chester, Ohio 45069. She will be laid to rest in Landmark Memorial Gardens in Evendale, Ohio. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to New Life Chapel to assist in their world-wide mission effort.