Sylvia Belle Utz

Sylvia Belle Knighting Utz. 91 of Criglersville,Va. died peacefully at home surrounded by family on October 22, 2025.
She was born October 19, 1934 in Madison and was the daughter of the late Wilmer Lee Knighting and Nina Shifflett Knighting. She was preceded in death by her husband Albert Earl Utz, son Thomas Lee Utz; four brothers, Lee Roy Knighting, Wilmer Lee Knighting Jr, Homer Lewis Knighting, and Bobby Rogers Knighting; and sister-in-law Mary Utz Vogel of Westminster, MD.
Sylvia retired from C & P Telephone Company, working 37 years in Culpeper Va. She continued working for another 25 years and retired from Graves Mountain Farm & Lodges. Sylvia enjoyed meeting people from all over and telling them stories. She enjoyed working in her garden canning green beans and corn.
Sylvia is survived by her two daughters, Nancy G. Utz and Linda U. Hoffman and husband Robert, daughter-in-law Sara C Utz, all of Madison; sisters-in-law, Gloria Leathers Knighting. Grace Smith Knighting, and Doris Utz Nicholson of Culpeper, Va.; five grandchildren, Michael Hoffman and wife Heidi, Joshua Hoffman and wife Lacy, Elizabeth Howey, Sam Utz and fiancée’ Linsey Katherine Ronbeck and Nancy Belle Mitchell and husband Marshall.
Great grandchildren – Peyton, Scarlett, Amelia Hoffman, Parker, Paisley, Levi Hoffman, Luke, and Paxton Howey, Saddie, Lillian, and John Mitchell all of Madison.
A graveside service will be held at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, October 28, 2025 at Criglersville Cemetery with Pastor Jeff Light officiating. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 pm on Monday, October 27, 2025 at Preddy Funeral Home Chapel in Madison.
In lieu of flowers, please make your contributions to Legacy Hospice. 500 Faulconer Drive, Suite 100, Charlottesville, Va. 22903.