Sylvia Tester, 92, of Glendale, AZ, died on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020, after a tenacious six-year battle with cancer.
A private Celebration of Life will be held graveside at Resthaven Park Cemetery in Glendale, AZ. West Resthaven Funeral Home in Glendale, AZ, is assisting the family with arrangements.
Mrs. Tester was born on Oct. 7, 1927, in Irving Township,to Edward Hughes and Ada Grace Oberle. She taught for one year at Hickory Grove School in Litchfield, before marrying Ivan Ernest Tester on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, 1945.
The couple laid down roots and raised their family in Arizona, with a short interlude of several years in Minnesota. Her family remembers her as a fiercely independent career woman and a loving mother, who always had perfectly coiffed hair and manicured nails. Mrs. Tester began her career at Brown Shoe Co. and Sprouse-Reitz. She later worked in advertising and human resources for Bayless and Bashas for over 45 years, ultimately retiring at age 80.
She loved her family most of all, serving as the matriarch of a blended family of grandchildren, step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Tester is survived by her brother, Dale (Rosemary) Hughes of Litchfield; children, Gloria Libby of Portland, OR, Bruce (Judy) Tester of Glendale, AZ, and Carol (Odie) Skaggs of Peoria, AZ; grandchildren, Tracie (George) Ross of Henry, NE, Amanda (Zach) Schlueter of Glendale, AZ, and Craig Tester of Glendale, AZ; and one great-grandson, Miles Schlueter.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and siblings, Rosetta Price, Edna Stoecker, Charles Hughes and Jim Hughes.
Memorials may be made to Hospice in the Valley or the donor’s choice. Correspondence may be sent to Carol Skaggs at 8854 North 110th Avenue, Peoria, AZ, 85345-2945.
