William "Bill" James Vivian

He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on August 20, 1918 to James and Clara Vivian. The family moved to Oakland, California in 1922. He graduated from high school and served in the Army-Air Corps from 1942 to 1945, serving in Italy. He received 2 Presidential Citations and 8 Campaign Medals.

While training in Yakima, he met his future wife, B. Evalyne Purchase. They married in Elko, Nevada on November 8, 1945, and were married for 52 years, until Evalyne’s death in 1997. They lived in California for 36 years, where Bill was employed by Skaggs Stone. When he retired in 1983, they moved to Yakima to be near their daughter.

Bill loved to work with this hands, building and repairing things during his life. He loved to travel. In later years, he developed to love of dancing, and was normally found at Harman’s Center on Wednesdays and Fridays. He never met at stranger.

William is survived by his daughter, Janet Vivian of Yakima; cousins in California and on the East Coast; special friend, Virginia Hathaway of Yakima; sisters-in-law, Edith Schoonover of Camas and Virginia Christopher of Yakima and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father and mother; four brothers; father in-law and mother in-law and many other relatives.

The family would like to thank his caregiver, Darlene Hiner for her special care, and friendship for William.

Memorials may be made to the Cancer Society, Yakima Memorial Hospice or Englewood Christian Church.

Visitation will be 4 to 8 pm on Friday, September 24, 2010 at Keith & Keith Ninth Avenue Chapel. A Funeral Service will be at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 25th at Keith & Keith Terrace Heights Chapel. To share a memory of William visit, keithandkeith.com.