Viva Haroldine Worthington- Cullens

Dean was born April 15, 1925, in Bandon, to Harold and E. Viva Sabro. She attended Llewellyn Grade School and Washington High School in Portland and studied music at Willamette University.

In 1948 Dean married Richard E. Worthington. Dick’s career with the Forest Service took them from Oregon to Washington, California, and Washington D.C. They returned to Portland in 1977, and upon Dick’s retirement, moved to Riddle. She and Dick enjoyed travels to Europe and she especially enjoyed becoming acquainted with family in Norway. They also enjoyed touring the US in their RV. Dean returned to Portland after Dick’s death in 1989.

As a young woman she belonged to the Mazamas, and was later a member of the Forest Service Wives organization. Dean’s career included working as a homemaker, bank teller, a school secretary, and many years of volunteer service at Providence Portland Medical Center. There, she met Victor Cullens and they married in 1994. With Vic, her love of travel continued with trips to Canada and Central America. After his death in 2003, she moved to Kentucky to be near her son Ben and his family.

Dean’s talents included being an accomplished seamstress who often wore her own handcrafted fashions, and a pianist. She always owned a piano.

Dean was a life-long learner. Besides taking community college classes, she learned to speak and write Norwegian at Portland State University. She was the family resource specialist and took great pleasure in finding answers to any question posed. Her dictionary was always close at hand and her wide knowledge of everything from plants to movies made her formidable at crosswords. She loved Cheetos, picnics, and found enjoyment and peace hiking forest trails. She often remarked how happy she was in the woods.

Dean was truly a nice person. She took on the role of step-mother later in life and fulfilled it in a way that made members of the Cullens family feel lucky and privileged to have had time with her. She had a gentle sense of humor, and an ability to be philosophic when presented with the challenges we all face in life. Her quick smile and easy laugh will be remembered. She was always a great sport.

Everywhere she lived she developed lasting friendships. She treasured her family and friends and was always interested in other’s lives. As Dean became more physically limited, she stayed in touch with family and friends by email or telephone.

Dean is survived by her son Ben Worthington (Diana), Winchester, Kentucky, her daughter Rebecca Jensen (Jeff), Pt Townsend, Washington, her daughter Viva Worthington, Toketee, Oregon, step-daughters Chris Cullens (Michael) and Jo Cullens, five grandchildren, one great grandson, brother P. Terry Sabro, sister-in-law Eleanor Wotton (Warren), three nephews and one niece. Preceding her in death are her husbands and her beloved sister, Dorothy Ann Minor.

A memorial service honoring Dean is scheduled for Tuesday, July 30, 12:00 PM at Lincoln Funeral Home. She will be buried with Dick at the Willamette National Cemetery, Portland.