Vivian Jean Fike Wilson, of Binghamton, N.Y., passed away on April 18, 2018, at her home in Binghamton, at the age of 92.
She was born on July 30, 1925, in Morgantown, to the late Mabel Bailey Fike and Charles Wade Fike. Vivian was also preceded in death by her husband of 69 years, Jack Belmont Wilson, in June 2012.
Family was the epicenter of Vivian’s life; as she exhibited much love and pride in her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was constantly in touch with them and closely followed all the milestones of their lives. As a highly, tech-savvy “Mamaw”, she followed family on her iPad through FaceBook, FaceTime and email.
Vivian Jean is survived by sons, John (Diane), James (Sandra), Jeffrey (Judy), Joel (Mindy), Julian, Jay (Stacy), and daughter Jennifer (Frank). She leaves behind 12 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren (and counting).
A World War II bride, Vivian Jean married Jack in February 1943, as he was preparing to ship out to Europe with the US Army. She then graduated from Morgantown High School in the spring of 1943, as a member of the Honor Society and President of the A Cappella group. She was voted “Smartest” by her senior classmates.
Vivian Jean supported the growing family as a bank teller in Morgantown, while Jack completed his college degrees, including a PhD, under the GI Bill. Vivian spent the majority of her life in the role of “chief operating officer” of the household while nurturing and caring for their six children. Their life together took the family to many places: Hyattsville, Md., Presque Isle, Maine, back to Morgantown, Shepherdstown, State College, Pa., and Trumansburg, N.Y.
While in Shepherdstown, and 30 years after her high school graduation, Vivian Jean satisfied her personal goal of a college education; where she earned a teaching degree in Music and English at Shepherd University. She graduated with high honors as a McMurran Scholar. She taught school in the Trumansburg public school district, and with Literacy Volunteers for several years.
Vivian Jean had struggled with heart issues over the past several years and received special love and care from son Joel and his wife Mindy during her failing health. She also spent several winter months each year, over the past 5 years, with son John and his wife Diane in Blacksburg, Va. Hospice care had been necessary for over the past two years.
The family wishes to express special thanks to caregivers from Lourdes Hospice of Vestal, N.Y., Good Samaritan Hospice of Christiansburg Va., and to Sheila Cline of Binghamton, N.Y., for her dedication and friendship.
A memorial service celebrating Vivian’s life will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 28, at Hastings Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions can be made to Lourdes Hospice, 4102 Old Vestal Rd, Vestal, NY 13850.
Condolences: ness-sibley.com
