header 1
header 2
header 3

In Memory

Sylvia Ellen Campos/Andrews (Schenk) - Class Of 1947

OBITUARY FROM THE DIGNITY MEMORIAL WEBSITE:

Sylvia “Ellen" (Campos) Schenk was born 07/31/1930 in Aurora, IL. She was the first born child of immigrant parents Harry Andrews (Austria-Hungry) and Florence Furgye (Romania). Three years later her baby brother Richard a.k.a. Sonny was born.

She hardly ever saw her father, but did remember a time when he took

her with him to a local tavern to show-off to the fathers at the bar by reciting, dancing, and singing.

The patrons would clap and throw dollars and change at her. She remembered her father picked up all the money and gave it to her, but when they left, he took it all away and gave her a one dollar bill. Then he sent her home on foot, all by herself. She never saw him again. Ellen was 6, when her mother divorced Harry. Florence who was living in Chicago, IL, took the children with her, to live temporarily with one of her sisters and her husband, in Gary, IN. That is where Florence met and married immigrant Serafin Campos (Spain), who had 2 wild undisciplined sons older than Ellen and Sonny. To avoid the Gary Juvenile Detention Center, the family of now six, moved quickly to Hobart, IN. Moving from Industrialized Gary to farmland Hobart was a culture shock for Ellen; there were no dysfunctional families, no immigrant, and no families of color. They even dressed differently. When Ellen was a high school freshman, she hung out daily at the band portables fascinated by the instruments and their sound. She was eventually told she either had to leave or play an instrument. She told them was tone deaf and had no musical ability, but the next thing she knew, she was blowing on a mouthpiece for one period a day. By the end of her freshman year she was playing in the senior band, was required to play in the junior band for contests, and play a solo. Ellen loved every minute of it. They even had her tutor students in English and foreign language who were not doing well in their classes. Although she didn’t study, she graduated from Hobart High School in 1947 in the top 10% of her class. Ellen was goal oriented and wanted

to go to college to become a Home Economics teacher. She was eligible for a music scholarship, but was discouraged by her parents because: "Girls didn’t go to college, they got married". So Ellen went to work. Her first job was playing first chair trumpet with the William Kryl Women’s Symphony Orchestra, Chicago. She decided to leave after 1 year, but she had no skills. She convinced her mother to let her enroll in the Elkhart Business School. Attending school in Elkhart, Ellen met and eventually married

her husband George Schenk in 1948. She went on to work at the Whitehall Pharmaceutical as a Mail Clerk, but with her new skills and intelligence, within two months, she was promoted as Assistant to the Secretary/Administrative Assistant to the VP. George and Ellen had 3 children; Wayne, Christine and Sylvia. Ellen’s best friend, Matilda “Tilly” Fas (Chappo), asked her to attend Indiana University, Gary Extension with her. She completed all the classes available to her and was offered a music scholarship to Indiana University, Bloomington. Now married and having 3 children, Ellen had to turn down the scholarship to the far away university. Later that month, she received a letter from the scholarship committee offering her $1000 to attend any university of her choice. She chose Valparaiso University in a nearby city. In 1965, she received her BA in French/English with History/Geography in Education.

After graduation, Ellen started her first teaching position, substituting for a teacher on leave, in the Gary Public Schools system. When that teacher returned, Ellen took a job in the Portage Township Schools, teaching junior high and high school. With the help of her foreign language colleagues, they formed excursions to France, Spain, Germany and Mexico. During the summer months, Ellen pursued her Masters Degree at Ball State University with a MLS in Library Science with French/English. She received her MLS in 1975.

Florence, Ellen’s mother decided to go into the travel agency business. Sometime later, Florence decided to open her own travel agency. Working full-time as a teacher, and working weekends and evenings became overwhelming and demanding, so Ellen retired from teaching to help her. Eventually Florence retired and Ellen took over the business. Ellen’s son Wayne was doing well in his own business in Las Vegas,Nevada and convinced his parents to move there. They did, but with a

slow, horrible economy, it took almost 7 years for them to complete the move. Awaiting George to be able to retire from his job and move, Ellen opened a travel agency in Las Vegas. She had been working side jobs as a professional babysitter, tax preparer for H&R Block, and even a product demonstrator at Sam’s Club. Realizing she really didn’t like being an business owner, Ellen closed her travel agency.

She took a position as a Customer Service Agent at America West Airlines, which cross utilized their employees in many aspects of the company except Ramp and Flight Attendants. With her knowledge of the airline industry, she worked at the ticket counter, gates, commissary, post departure, and her favorite - Baggage Service, where she was able to use her abilities for research. After 4 years, two ex-flight attendants from Pan Am, encouraged and even bet her $50, to apply for the Flight Attendant position. She laughed thinking she didn’t have a chance, especially since she was 61 years of age. To her surprise. she was accepted and made it through the training. Then America West Airlines started having financial problems. When the airline was back in business, her seniority helped her meet the cut-off for employment. Being a Flight Attendant was as interesting and exciting as she had expected. She loved being a Flight Attendant!

The Regional Sales Department needed a Secretary substitute while the other employee was on maternity leave. Once again her experiences with the airline and travel agency paid off and she was selected to not only substitute, but replace her, as well as open two City Ticket Offices at the Frontier and Riviera Hotels. What a privilege! At that time, America West Airlines maintained a City Ticket Office at the Riviera. While she was there, the Administrative Assistant to the Hotel President inquired if she might be interested in working a couple of evenings a month as an Usher at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. After 6 months in the Arena, she was asked to apply for Assistant Supervisor in charge of Usher check-in, another position Ellen worked. That couple of evenings grew to 21 years. During that time, Ushers were hired to fill in as many temp jobs, except Union held positions. Now she was working in many different positions in the hotel and at the airport, from employee events to many other company enterprises too numerous to list. They even had her train for other departments including the Race & Sports Book, to help out during some of the busiest betting times. A lot of changes came about with the next administration and it was decided that 10 temps would be transferred to the Race & Sports Book. Guess who was 1 of the 10? You guessed it….Ellen. Ellen stated how much fun she had working for the MGM. She enjoyed working at the Race and Sports Book most. Her favorite events were Superbowl and March Madness. She also enjoyed being a Writer for all sports such as: Fights, Basketball, Football, Baseball. Horse Races and the like. She expressed many times the wonderful friends she had there and loved deeply. She shared a comradery that superseded all prior jobs. AT 92, SHE WAS STILL GOING STRONG! She was able to get around without assistance, mentally sharp as a tack, and still working. But that was all going to change.

On November 1, 2022, Ellen was diagnosed with a large cancerous mass in her colon. Determined to beat this disease, she worked diligently to improve her health and gain weight, so that she could survive an operation. She was fighting for her life and proving to be quite a formidable opponent, until she had a nasty fall mid to late December, that fractured her skull, cause several brain bleeds and a severe concussion, which she never recuperated from. She succumbed to God’s calling and went home to him 02/09/2023.

Over the course of her lifetime, Ellen was an Assistant Softball Coach, helped out with Little League baseball, and with Boy Scouts (all in Indiana). In Nevada, she volunteer at her church, volunteered at the 2006 Presidential Election and early voting, and participated in the American Airlines Vanguards (an America West, USAir and American Airlines Retiree). She was an avid movie goer, sewed clothing for herself and her children, knitted, crocheted, went to concerts and PBS events, donated, read books (more books and faster then anyone you’d know) and did crossword puzzles. She took as many trips as she could, traveling all over the world and especially enjoyed cruises.

Ellen was preceded in death by her loving husband George (2015) of 67 years and her only son Wayne (2018). She lives on through her daughters; Christine and Sylvia, Grandchildren; Katie, Tyler, Sean, Gregg, Darren and Scott; Great Grandchildren: Briella, Camilla, and Jaxon, and numerous people she included as her extended family and countless friends. She is remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother who was a friend, confidant, companion, wise, loving, caring, intelligent, reliable, naive in the sweetest way, resourceful, fun, having a wonderful sense of humor, and forgiving and generous to a fault. She had an uncanny ability to occasionally run over to a slot machine, win a Royal and say "Now I have money to buy dinner". She is missed by all who knew and loved her, but will never be forgotten and can never be replaced.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.palmeastern.com for the Schenk family.

This information and picture were obtained from: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/las-vegas-nv/sylvia-schenk-11150165.