Sylvia Ruth (Janger) Wechter

Sylvia Ruth (Janger) Wechter died peacefully in her home on August 27, 2025 in La Jolla, California, surrounded by her children and loved ones. Born in Oklahoma City on September 20, 1935, Sylvia was the daughter of Jeanette Balk Janger and Louis Janger. She grew up in Oklahoma then moved to Los Angeles with her family after high school.

Sylvia attended UCLA for college where she was in AEPhi sorority and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. It was when she agreed to drive a relative to El Paso, Texas where she was set up on a blind date with Aaron Wechter, that her life fatefully changed.

Engaged after twelve dates, Sylvia married her soulmate and life partner with whom she shared 55 years until he passed in 2012. Together, they raised three children and created a rich life filled with family and friends. They valued giving back to both the Jewish community as well as their El Paso community.

Later, Sylvia and Aaron spent increasingly more time traveling the world. They particularly delighted in their time spent in La Jolla where they created a treasured community of dear friends and a special place for family gatherings and celebrations.

Sylvia always lived her life with grace and beauty. She loved entertaining and cooking and was the quintessential hostess. She was a devoted wife and mother and later, grandmother. In the early years, she applied her interior design talents by helping Aaron in his real estate developments. When her children were older, she earned a Masters degree in Psychology from UTEP and took an interest in managing a portfolio of stocks.

Sylvia and Aaron leave a rich legacy by way of their children and grandchildren. Further, their generosity will be felt for generations to come through the impact of donor advised funds they established at the El Paso Jewish Community Foundation and the San Diego Jewish Community foundation as well as an endowed scholarship at UTEP.

Sylvia loved and appreciated her life and closed her recent memoirs stating “Life is a gift and I am happy to be here and will leave with a grateful heart. I hope that my descendants continue to thrive and will share our legacy.”

Sylvia is survived by her children, Dana, Randy (Janet) and Kevin (Jamie), her beloved grandchildren, Shane, Jaden and Michaela Baxter, Ryan and Jenny Wechter and Cassidy and Cody Wechter. Her memory lives on with her sister Marsha, sister-in-law Linda Janger and her nieces and nephews Rosanne and Sharon Wechter, Jeff (Rachel) and Lane Janger, Loran, Alicia (Alex) Garnes and Kirk (Kathleen) Kaminsky.

Zichronah Livracha – May her memory be a blessing.

Funeral services will be held in El Paso Texas on  August 29, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. at B’nai Zion Cemetery, 3915 Gateway West Blvd.

In lieu of flowers the family has requested that donations be made to the B’nai Zion Synagogue or Jewish Federation of San Diego County.