STERLING — Virgil T. (Grandpa Silly) Sillin, 84, passed away Oct. 19 at Sterling Presbyterian Manor. Born May 6, 1928, in Stafford County, he was the son of Earl and Lucile Krum Sillin. He graduated from Sterling College and Kansas City Mortuary Arts School. He was a funeral director, and had owned and operated Porter and Sillin Funeral Home in Sterling, Sillin Funeral Home in Lyons, and Sillin Funeral Home in Ordway, Colo.  He had owned and operated Four Seasons Flower and Gift Shops in Sterling and Lyons. He operated the Rice County Ambulance from 1960 to 1976. He had served in the National Guard and on the Sterling Hospital Board of Directors.  
Mr. Sillin was a member of (Disciples of Christ) Christian Church, where he had served as an elder, Sunday school and bible study teacher.  He was the founder of the Sterling Lion’s Club and had been very active in the Sterling Old Fashioned 4th of July. He loved to sing, read and was an avid storyteller among schools and civic groups. In retirement, he was an active Youth Friends of Reno County volunteer.  He received a state wide Friends of Education Award, for being one of the most devoted volunteers. Some of his interests included Civil War, Abraham Lincoln, and John Wayne.   
He married Marian LeRoy in Ellsworth County. She passed away on June 11, 1988. Survivors include his children, Nancy Brown and husband Bruce of Greeley, Colo., Maryann Bundy and husband Steve of Manhattan, Lana Sillin of Hutchinson; daughter-in-law, Chris Sillin of Hutchinson; sister, Maxine Spangenberg and husband Ron of Wichita; sister-in-law, Dolores Sillin of Overbrook; 12 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two sons, David Sillin in infancy and Douglas Sillin; and one brother Dr. Percy Sillin.
The family will greet friends from 9 to 11 a.m. with funeral service following at 11 a.m. on Wednesday at the First Congregational Church, 3410 N. Plum, Hutchinson, with the Reverend Matt Stafford officiating. Graveside services will be at 2:30 p.m., at Stafford Cemetery with the Reverend Leslie Rock officiating. Memorials may be sent to Youth Friends of Reno County, First Christian Church of Hutchinson or Sterling Presbyterian Manor in care of the funeral home.

Funeral arrangements provided by
Buhler Mortuary**
120 North Main
Buhler, Ks. 67522
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Oct. 23, 2012