Sylvia P Eastman

Sylvia Sue (Phelps) Eastman passed away June 9, 2016 at Naples Community Hospital.  She was born June 14, 1938 to the late Charles Royce Phelps and Sarah Tunison Phelps in Memphis Tennessee where she lived for 13 years.  She attended High School in Danville, Indiana and then went on to graduate from Hanover College in 1960 with a degree in education. While in college she belonged to sorority Alpha Delta Pi where she met many lifelong friends. She worked summers as a dental hygienist in Indianapolis for the Dr. Stone offices. She married Joel Desmond Eastman IV in 1962 and completed her Master's Degree in 1967. Her son, Joel Desmond Eastman V, was born that same year. Her long teaching career began in the Plainfield Community High School in 1968. She moved to Naples, Florida in 1973 and continued teaching physical education for the next 28 years. She was Physical Educational Chairman at Golden Gate Middle School, Pine Ridge Middle School, and Oak Ridge Middle School. She also coached girls High School track, basketball, volleyball, and softball at Naples High School. She took a girls High School softball team to the Florida state finals several years. She dearly loved her school families as a devoted staff member even teaching summer school for several years. She earned many teaching awards and was highly honored as a reluctant retiree. Sylvia retired in 2001 and moved to Atlanta for the next seven years. She returned to her former Royal Wood Community in 2008 and became a very willing participant in her active community. She shared her leadership and organizational talents as Secretary of the Master Board, Social Chairman of her condo association, and President of her large Ladies Golfing Association.   She's preceded in death by her husband and her brother, Joel Eastman IV and Royce Phelps of South Venice, FL. She's survived by her son, Joel Eastman V and his wife Jodie, grandson, Joel Eastman VI, brother, Roger Phelps and his wife Rosemary, sister, Pat Lilly and her husband Ken, and many nieces and nephews.    Her sense of humor was infectious and she was truly loved by everyone. She was a teacher even when she wasn't teaching. She loved all of the kids she taught for so many years and always was willing to help in any way she could. Her Cobblestone community is planning a Celebration of Life in her honor in the fall at the Royal Wood Golf and Country Club in Naples, FL.