Ivy Vickery Wittichen

Ivy Vickery Wittichen, age 99, joined her Heavenly Father and her husband, Carl, on Friday February 21, 2020. She was born and raised in Hodges, Alabama, the youngest daughter and one of nine children, of Donie McCurley Vickery and Earl Columbus Vickery. Upon graduation from Hackleburg High School in 1938, Ivy moved to Birmingham. While employed with Western Union, she obtained her degree at Wheeler Business College.

In 1949, Ivy met and married the love of her life, Carl Wittichen. They had 67 years of love, adventures, and growth. Ivy thrived in her family life, and was supportive of Carl throughout his business career. It was an always-interesting blend of a small-town lady and a big–city gentleman!

While raising their three daughters, Ivy’s gifts and talents began to flourish. She had an amazing “green thumb,” and loved growing, arranging, and sharing her flowers and vegetables. Incidentally, her knack for all things outdoors resulted in many fishing trips where she usually caught more fish than Carl! (Sorry, Daddy!) She could always be counted on to bait a child’s hook, steady the rod, and demonstrate how to properly clean the day’s catch!

Ivy’s creativity and talents led to her involvement in many local clubs and organizations. She painted china with longtime friends in the “China Dolls,” and was a member of the Mountain Brook Music and Arts Club. She was also active in the Women’s Junior Chamber of Commerce, Civiettes, Linaria Garden Club, Birmingham Civic Ballet, Spastic Aid of Alabama, and the Birmingham Botanical Gardens Society, and was a Member of Mountain Brook Club.

Ivy was predeceased in death by her husband, Carl Wittichen, and her infant great-grandson, Carl Finley (Finn) Israel. She is survived by her three daughters: Julia (Judy) Wittichen Anderson (Charles), Ivy Vickery (Vicky) Wittichen Henderson (David), and Linda Wittichen Israel (Charlie). Also surviving are her 9 grandchildren: Eleanor Powell Anderson Owens (Dean), Charles Wittichen Anderson (Charlann), Ivy Margaret Henderson Schuster (Josef). David Poole Henderson, Jr., Charles Wesley Griffith (Griff) Israel (Mims), Carl Wittichen (Whitt) Israel (Lucy), Robert Christopher Israel (Kathleen), John Parker Israel, and Ivy Elizabeth Israel. Her surviving great-grandchildren are Zach and Beth Owens, Mary Carolyn Anderson, Julia and Milly Schuster, Charlie and Evelin Israel, Annie, Lilla, Carl and Thompson Israel, and Margot and Ivy Israel. She loved them so!

In her last days, she found comfort in Scripture often read to her by her grandson, David, particularly Psalm 23:

“Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Our family will be forever grateful for the loving care our mother received from the staff at Saint Martin’s in the Pines, Expect Care Hospice (Amanda Jackson), and most especially from her caregivers: LaQuetta Barnes, Renee Bellard, Krishun Lyons, Toni Motley, Grace Richardson, Diane Shipp, and Monica Walker. These ladies love the Lord, and passed that love to our mother for countless comforting days and nights. We love our #teamivy. Thank you, thank you!

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Saint Martin’s in the Pines (4941 Montevallo Rd, B’ham, AL 35210); Children’s Hospital of Alabama (600 7th Avenue South, B’ham, AL 35233); or Briarwood Presbyterian Church (2200 Briarwood Way, B’ham, Al 35243.)

“When we all get to Heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be!”