Sylvia Louise (Fingar) Lange

Sylvia Louise Fingar Lange

May 23, 1940 – December 2, 2022

Sylvia Louise Lange went to be with her Lord and Savior on December 2, 2022.

Sylvia was born to the late Herman P. Fingar and Nellie Esther Wheatley on May 23, 1940 in Tampa. She was the eldest of four children. Sylvia is joining her brothers Pete and Jimmy in Heaven, while her sister Lucretia is staying behind to hold the fort down.

Sylvia graduated from Hillsborough High School in Tampa where she was the Worthy Advisor of the Rainbow Girls, a Masonic youth service organization that teaches leadership through community service. She also spent time in Haiti as a missionary before heading off to Asbury Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky — where she was Vice President of her class — in her commitment to her lifelong desire to serve the Lord. She went there to study, of course. However, she also found the love of her life there — Herbert Lange.

It was hard work for her to nail that German immigrant down, but like all things Sylvia did, she was successful, and they were married on August 4, 1962. Her first two children, Mark and Monica, were born in Lexington, Kentucky before the young family undertook the adventure of a lifetime — moving to the remote Pacific Island of Palau in Micronesia from 1965-1977 as missionaries. Sylvia put her many skills to use — teaching high school girls how to cook and sew and leading many of them to the Lord Jesus Christ.  

Sylvia’s efforts left behind a lasting legacy among the native Palauan women. She managed to teach, support their ministry, and run a household, making do with few resources while always maintaining her vibrant sense of humor. Her family grew with the birth of Laura and then Leif — born on the islands. There was not much contact with the outside world, as flights to Palau those days only occurred three times a week. Sylvia was able to keep in touch with her family back in the USA through the United States Postal Service and the infrequent and truly, then, long-distance phone call. 

After leaving the mission field, Sylvia moved to Liebenzell Mission in New Jersey, but the cold weather exacerbated a longing to return to the warm

sunshine of Florida. So, in 1979, the Langes moved to Tampa — where Herbert served as a minister in Tampa, then Pinellas Park, and finally Tarpon Springs. Of course, Sylvia also served as the minister’s wife, but she took a job teaching for Pinellas County Schools at Paul B. Stephens School in Clearwater. Sylvia taught at this school built for students with special needs for 19 years before retiring. While at the school, her program was recognized on multiple occasions for the work her students produced, all reflective of her dedication and passion to teaching special needs students. 

After her retirement, Sylvia continued her mission work in Lithuania, mentoring and empowering Lithuanian women through the establishment of a craft guild as well as helping Herbert get the Lord’s message out to the people.

The Langes also bought mountain land in beautiful Cruso, North Carolina on Dream Mountain. Sylvia designed the house and the Lange family built it together as a family project, naming it Birchwood. But Sylvia made it a home as her touch and fascination with chickens is everywhere! 

Sylvia loved Christmas and every time her family sees the world lit up for the  celebration of the birth of Jesus her presence will be with them.

The last years of Sylvia’s life were not easy — as she endured multiple surgeries, COVID-19, and the difficulties of aging. She weathered everything like a war horse — battling and plodding on. The song You Raise Me Up by Josh Groban and her faith in God inspired her to face her hardships with grace. Through it all she loved the many grandchildren she had, eleven in all, as well as two great grandchildren — lavishing them with gifts and chocolate. Amazon.com will miss her — but we will all miss her much more as she lived her life generously, richly, and with purpose, providing a wonderful example to all who loved her. 

Her favorite verses from the Bible are found in Psalms 23:

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me besides the still waters. He restoreth my soul; he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou are with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou  anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Sylvia’s celebration of life service will be held at 12:30, on Saturday, December 10th at the First United Methodist Church in Tarpon Springs. Interment will take place at Cruso United Methodist Church Cemetery in Cruso, North Carolina on  Tuesday, December 13th.

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