Obituary for Vivian Rose (Cooper) Lewis
Vivian Rose Cooper Lewis was born on October 5, 1931 to Ralph and Lula Withers Cooper of Mitchell, Indiana. She was the second to youngest of nine siblings. She was born and raised in Mitchell and graduated from Mitchell High School. She was the first sibling to go to college. At Indiana University in Bloomington is where she met the love of her life, her husband, Marvin Lewis. They were married on June 13, 1952 and were married 63 years. Vivian went on to earn her degree in Elementary Education, as well as, a Masters in Elementary Education from IU.
Vivian began her teaching career at Stalker Elementary in Bedford, Indiana. She also taught at McCalla and finished her professional teaching career at Rogers Elementary in Bloomington, IN.
Vivian and Marvin had two sons, Timothy Lee (1955) and Thomas Alan (1958), who they were very proud of. Tim lived in Bloomington, IN and met and married Chere and they had 3 children, Heather, Hayley, and Jordan. Tom moved to Graham, TX where he met and married Barbara and later had one son, Andrew Lewis. Tim retired in 2004 from 26 years as a police officer. Tom retired in 2019 from a 37 year career as an athletic trainer.
During Vivian’s 38 years of teaching, she touched countless lives. Children were her world. Ensuring they had a quality education was most important to her. Vivian had a profound influence on her family members which included supporting them with their education and ultimately spurring them on to become teachers themselves.
Vivian believed in supporting her community and volunteered tirelessly. She was a member of Clear Creek Christian Church for 67 years. Vivian was involved in two sororities that she held close to her heart. She joined Iota Chapter of Kappa Kappa Sigma in 1962 and became a life member in 1977, as well as, served as president in 1980 and 2011. She received her 50 year pin in 2012. Vivian was also a 50 year member of the education sorority, Delta Kappa Gamma. She held the office of recording secretary and served on committees throughout her years of membership.
Vivian was a strong woman who never gave up, even with her many health issues. Many family members and close friends passed away during Vivian’s lifetime including her siblings, her son Tim in 2004, and her husband Marvin in 2014. She took care of many of her family members and visited her friends daily before their passing. The friendships that she built were priceless and stood the test of time. Vivian’s legacy of loving and caring for others will live on in her family.
Vivian is survived by her son, Tom Lewis (Barbara) of Graham Texas, her daughter in law, Chere Lewis of Bloomington, IN, her granddaughters Heather Yeargin (Tim) and Dr. Hayley Wible (Ryan) of Bloomington, IN, her grandsons Jordan Lewis (Denae) of Noblesville, IN and Andrew Lewis of Austin, Texas and great grandchildren who were her world, as well as, close family members and friends who were ultimately a part of her family.
Thank you to IU Health Bloomington Hospital nurses and physicians, Dr. Shenoy, Dr. McKinley, and Dr. Wible that believed in Vivian and her family’s concerns, which allowed her to spend more years enjoying the daily antics of her great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 11:00 AM until 1:00 PM on Wednesday, February 3, 2021 at The Funeral Chapel of Powell and Deckard, 3000 E. Third Street Bloomington, Indiana. Covid-19 protocols will be followed for the visitation with no more than 25 people in the funeral home at one time. Thank you for your understanding and patience.
Funeral services will be private due to Covid-19 restrictions, but may be viewed on The Funeral Chapel Facebook page beginning at 12:55 PM. Burial will follow at Clear Creek Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Stonebelt or the Tim Lewis Memorial Fund at IUPD.
Vivian began her teaching career at Stalker Elementary in Bedford, Indiana. She also taught at McCalla and finished her professional teaching career at Rogers Elementary in Bloomington, IN.
Vivian and Marvin had two sons, Timothy Lee (1955) and Thomas Alan (1958), who they were very proud of. Tim lived in Bloomington, IN and met and married Chere and they had 3 children, Heather, Hayley, and Jordan. Tom moved to Graham, TX where he met and married Barbara and later had one son, Andrew Lewis. Tim retired in 2004 from 26 years as a police officer. Tom retired in 2019 from a 37 year career as an athletic trainer.
During Vivian’s 38 years of teaching, she touched countless lives. Children were her world. Ensuring they had a quality education was most important to her. Vivian had a profound influence on her family members which included supporting them with their education and ultimately spurring them on to become teachers themselves.
Vivian believed in supporting her community and volunteered tirelessly. She was a member of Clear Creek Christian Church for 67 years. Vivian was involved in two sororities that she held close to her heart. She joined Iota Chapter of Kappa Kappa Sigma in 1962 and became a life member in 1977, as well as, served as president in 1980 and 2011. She received her 50 year pin in 2012. Vivian was also a 50 year member of the education sorority, Delta Kappa Gamma. She held the office of recording secretary and served on committees throughout her years of membership.
Vivian was a strong woman who never gave up, even with her many health issues. Many family members and close friends passed away during Vivian’s lifetime including her siblings, her son Tim in 2004, and her husband Marvin in 2014. She took care of many of her family members and visited her friends daily before their passing. The friendships that she built were priceless and stood the test of time. Vivian’s legacy of loving and caring for others will live on in her family.
Vivian is survived by her son, Tom Lewis (Barbara) of Graham Texas, her daughter in law, Chere Lewis of Bloomington, IN, her granddaughters Heather Yeargin (Tim) and Dr. Hayley Wible (Ryan) of Bloomington, IN, her grandsons Jordan Lewis (Denae) of Noblesville, IN and Andrew Lewis of Austin, Texas and great grandchildren who were her world, as well as, close family members and friends who were ultimately a part of her family.
Thank you to IU Health Bloomington Hospital nurses and physicians, Dr. Shenoy, Dr. McKinley, and Dr. Wible that believed in Vivian and her family’s concerns, which allowed her to spend more years enjoying the daily antics of her great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 11:00 AM until 1:00 PM on Wednesday, February 3, 2021 at The Funeral Chapel of Powell and Deckard, 3000 E. Third Street Bloomington, Indiana. Covid-19 protocols will be followed for the visitation with no more than 25 people in the funeral home at one time. Thank you for your understanding and patience.
Funeral services will be private due to Covid-19 restrictions, but may be viewed on The Funeral Chapel Facebook page beginning at 12:55 PM. Burial will follow at Clear Creek Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Stonebelt or the Tim Lewis Memorial Fund at IUPD.