Maryellen Evans Vandivier

Maryellen Evans Vandivier, 89, died on Wednesday, May 31, 2017. A resident of Greenspring community in Springfield, Virginia for over 5 years and Daytona Beach Shores, Florida for 20 years prior to that, she was born October 11, 1927, in Indianapolis, IN. Ms. Vandivier attended Butler University as well as DePauw University in IN.

Ms. Vandivier worked in the Department of State for the Security Branch of the US Consulate in Frankfurt, Germany, supported the Iran Hostages upon their release at the Weisbaden Military Hospital, and served in the State Department Office of Protocol and later in support of Donald Rumsfeld as a Special Middle East Peace envoy during the Reagan Administration. Additionally she served for two years in Geneva during the U.S. and Russian Nuclear Disarmament talks between Presidents Reagan and Gorbachov.

Ms. Vandivier and her family traveled extensively with the State Department, living in Frankfurt, Germany for three separate tours in 1957, 1966, and 1978 as well as Oslo, Norway in 1962 and Moscow, USSR in 1964.

She moved to Daytona Beach Shores, FL, where she enjoyed 20 years of retirement prior to moving in 2012 to Greenspring to be close to family. She was proceeded in death by her ex-husband and father of her children, James R. Vandivier who passed away December 10, 2016. Survivors include a son, Stephen Evans Vandivier, daughter-in-law Christine Fearon, of Clifton, VA, daughter Dianne Vandivier of Arlington, VA, grandson, James Vaughan Dietterle, and 2 granddaughters, Allie Evans Vandivier and Abigail Forsyth Vandivier.

A celebration of Maryellen's life will take place at 11am on July 6 at the Chapel at Greenspring Retirement Community, 7430 Spring Village Drive, Springfield, VA 22150.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Evan Foundation (www.evanfoundation.org/Home/Donate) in honor of her grandson's close friend who died of childhood cancer, or the ALS foundation (www.alsa.org/donate) in honor of her son's close friend who died of ALS.