There is a time to be born and a time to die. That time for Vivian Mitchell Wilson came on Saturday, December 1, 2018. Vivian was born on July 30, 1941 in Catawba County. She graduated from Hildebran High School in 1959 where she was affectionately nicknamed “Moose Mitchell” for her tall stature as a basketball player. She received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Lenoir-Rhyne College and a master’s degree from Peabody College for Teachers at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN.
She married her husband, Bobby, in 1968 and together reared two daughters, Jessica Wilson Sanchez (Celedonio Rodriguez-Sanchez) and Carrie Beth Wilson Ramsey (Chuck Ramsey). She also is survived by her precious grandson, Bobby M. Sanchez and treasured nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Walter Lee Mitchell and Jessie Viola Wilson, as well as two sisters, Carrie Bernice Aderholdt and Bobbie Lee Clark Hensley.
She spent 49 years in service to the Lord as organist of Hildebran United Methodist Church, and in recent years, enjoyed her membership at Abernethy Memorial United Methodist Church. She enjoyed gardening, spending time with her family, and going on excursions with her friends who were lovingly called the “Golden Girls.” She is remembered for her quick wit, her dedication to education as a veteran teacher of 38 years and as a lifelong servant of her Lord.
A Service will be held at Abernethy Memorial United Methodist Church in Rutherford College with Pastors Tony Bowman and April Abernethy on Wednesday, December 5 at 12pm pm with burial following the service at Catawba Memorial Park in Hickory. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 11:00 to 11:45am at the church.
Memorials may be made in honor of Mrs. Wilson to Hildebran United Methodist Church at PO BOX 550 Hildebran, NC 28637 or Abernethy Memorial United Methodist Church at PO BOX 127, Rutherford College, NC 28671.
Condolences may be left at www.catawbamemorialpark.com.
The Wilson Family is under the care of Catawba Memorial Park, Funerals & Cremations.