Vivian Janice Seidle

Vivian Janice Zeman Seidle

October 24, 1932 – May 6, 2023

Vivian was born October 24, 1932, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the oldest child of Frank J. Zeman and Thelma Carley Zeman. She had one sister, Carol Ann Zeman Wolf, and her husband, Dr. David Wolf, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and one brother, Franklin “Bud” Zeman, from Indiana.

Vivian graduated from McKinley High School in Cedar Rapids before earning a B.A. in History at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, with secondary credentials at Iowa State Teachers College, Cedar Falls, Iowa. After graduation, Vivian moved to Washington, her mother’s home state, where she taught for one year. She met her husband, Bill Seidle, at a dance in Richland, WA, and they were married for 58 years before Bill died in 2014. Bill was a rancher in Kennewick, WA, and worked as a nuclear engineer at the Hanford Site. She and Bill married in St. Joseph’s Chapel, Kennewick, WA, on February 24, 1956. In 1957, Vivian gave birth to Julie Anne Seidle in Kennewick, Washington. Eighteen months later, Bill accepted a job offer to work at the Vallecitos Nuclear Center with General Electric and moved to Fremont, California, with their daughter, Julie Anne Seidle. While in Fremont, Vivian gave birth to William Carley Seidle and Robert Carter Seidle.

After eight glorious years in California, Bill joined the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission to regulate nuclear reactors and moved the family to Atlanta, Georgia. Here Vivian began a lifelong journey as a volunteer with the American Association of University Women (AAUW). Her most notable AAUW accomplishment was helping establish an annual Book Fair, which raised money for women scholars for ten years. Vivian was an avid reader, with over 6000 books in her home library. She often said that she could bring the world to her through her books and emphasized education as the key to success in life.

In 1976, Bill moved the family one last time to Arlington, TX, to join the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Once acculturated as a Texan, Vivian and Bill spent much time together traveling and antiquing across Texas, looking for collectibles, including old clocks, phones, brass fans, and celluloid. Vivian amassed a beautiful celluloid collection with hundreds of pieces and entered it into the State Fair of Texas in 1991, earning a blue ribbon. Their love for travel included many European trips, including Paris, France, her favorite city. Also, Vivian and Bill were active National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors members and would attend most national events.

Vivian continued her passion for books and joined the AAUW in Arlington, where she became the chapter, President. In total, Vivian spent over 50 years volunteering with AAUW. She founded the Arlington AAUW Annual Book Fair, which raised money for women’s scholarships. Also, Vivian served for years as the chapter’s historian and, in 2016, donated the Arlington AAUW files to the Women’s Collection at Texas Woman’s University. In addition, Vivian was a member of the Arlington Women’s Club, along with her daughter-in-law, Janice Lane Seidle.

Vivian was preceded in death by her parents and her husband.

Survivors include one daughter, Julie Anne Seidle of Dallas, TX, and two sons: William Carley Seidle and wife Regina of Montgomery, TX, and Robert Carter Seidle and his wife Janice of Arlington, TX. And three grandchildren, Carley Jeanne Joy, Bryant Carter Seidle, and Brett Thomas Seidle, and two great-grandchildren: Savannah Jeanne Joy and Theo Bryant Seidle; and several nieces and nephews.

In remembrance of Vivian’s life, the family asks that any charitable donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Research Foundation.

A visitation for Vivian will be held Thursday, May 18, 2023 from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM at Moore Funeral Home, 1219 North Davis Drive, Arlington, TX 76012. A funeral service will occur Thursday, May 18, 2023 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM, 1219 North Davis Drive, Arlington, TX 76012. A committal service will occur Thursday, May 18, 2023 from 2:30 PM to 3:00 PM at Dallas Ft. Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Pkwy, Dallas, TX 75211.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.moore-funeralhome.com for the Seidle family.