Sylvia White Flynn

Sylvia White Flynn passed away on Saturday, December 6th, 2025. Born an army brat in a sweltering Virginia summer, Sylvia’s early precociousness would go on to shape her later life. She and her siblings moved often during their childhood, during which she developed a love of painting, writing, and most of all, reading. Possessed of both creative and scholastic aptitudes, she became the second in her family to attend college, majoring in business at the University of Richmond.

In a workspace predominantly occupied by men, Sylvia worked hard to make a name for herself. Leveraging her family’s inherent stubbornness and determination, she found success in the marketing and credit card divisions of Signet bank. It was during this time that she met another ‘geeky’ banker, Michael, who attempted to woo her at the office Christmas party. On their first date, he took her to the Strawberry Street café and the Rocky Horror Picture show, all while clad in braces and a bow tie. Even after his car was towed and they had to walk to find it through the cold streets of downtown Richmond, she still agreed to a second date and, later, marriage.

Outside of work, her trouble-making husband, and her hard-headed children, Sylvia enjoyed myriad hobbies: digging through auctions for rare finds, managing a burgeoning garden (and the dog that liked to dig through it), and, of course, reading mystery after mystery. Most of all, she cherished the time that she spent with her family, often at the beach, where she would spend early mornings angling for a picture of the perfect sunrise.

Sylvia is survived by her children, John and Elizabeth; their spouses, Courtney and Morgan; and her cantankerous German Shepherd, Ivy. She is also survived by her siblings, Karen and Victor; their spouses, Nicholas and Renee; and her nephews Jared and Justin. She was preceded in death by her parents, Colonel Victor and Margaret White, and her husband, Michael.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation or enjoy a hot cup of coffee (with a little too much cream) and a book in her honor.

A graveside service will be held Friday December 12, 2025 1:00pm at Highland Burial Park with Father Anthony Senyah officiating.