Vivian Gilliland Michael

Vivian Gilliland Michael of Daytona Beach Shores, Florida passed away at 7:05 pm on July 13, 2026. Vivian was born in Clifton Forge, Virginia, on July 30, 1924, the daughter of William Thomas Gilliland and Lourena Mae Taylor. A three-sport letter athlete at Central High School, she was also Valedictorian of her high school class in 1942. Upon graduation, she entered Nurses Training at the Chesapeake & Ohio Hospital and The University of Cincinnati. In 1943, she entered the United States Navy as a Cadet Nurse. Upon graduating and receiving her designation as a Registered Nurse (RN), “Viv” was assigned to the US Naval Hospital in Pensacola, Florida, where she served the wounded until the end of World War II.

Vivian met her husband, William A. Michael during the war and they were married in 1946 in Roanoke, VA. After the war, Vivian worked in private practice as a supervisory RN supporting her husband William A Michael, as he returned to complete his college degree at Virginia Tech, which had been interrupted by his combat tours in the South Pacific from 1942-1944.

In 1956 Vivian gave birth to their son William A Michael Jr, becoming a full-time mother and homemaker at this time. However, her nursing skills continued to be present on a daily basis as she took care not only of her young son, but also her war wounded husband and her father who passed away in 1966. Her mother and aunt then moved from Virginia to live with Vivian and William in Maryland shortly after her father’s death until their passings in the early 1990’s.

Viv and her husband were active parishioners and religious education teachers in their Episcopal parishes of St John, St George’s and the Church of the Redeemer in Maryland. Vivian was also active in supporting the Officers Wives Club at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD and the Harford Memorial Hospital Woman’s Auxiliary in Havre de Grace, MD. She was a long-time Baltimore Orioles fan, following and supporting the team ever since the Orioles arrived in Baltimore in 1954.

In 2002, Vivian and her husband relocated to Oakcrest Village in Parkville, MD where she took care of her ailing husband until his passing in 2008. Vivian was on the Board at the “Treasure Chest” and organized the community Bridge Club. She remained at Oakcrest until Feb 2025 when she returned to Florida after 75 years to be with her son and daughter-in-law.

Vivian is survived by her son William “Mike” (Regina); four grandchildren: Eric T. (Angela) of Sandpoint, ID, Brian C. (Natalie) of Warrenton, VA , Emily A. (Adam) of Washington, DC & Shannon T. of Denver, CO. She is also survived by 11 great grandchildren with another on the way: Adele, Conrad, Orion, Lars, Imogen, Elizabeth, Matthew, Samantha, Liam, Nora, and Zoe. Her “grands” and her “greats” were so special to her.

Funeral services will be held at Arlington National Cemetery in VA at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the American Legion.

The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude and appreciation to the staff at Heritage Waterside, Daytona Beach Shores and VITAS Hospice of Daytona Beach for their care and thoughtfulness during Vivian’s final years.