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Viola Josephine Foulks, nee Manning passed away on April 9, 2014 at 5:45 pm. She was the daughter of Paul G. Manning and Julia Manning (nee Blake) of Bradford Illinois.
Viola was brought into this world by Dr. Viola Shaw Terwilliger who was one of the first Woman physicians in Illinois, and Viola's Aunt and namesake. She was born on March 24, 1934 and had just celebrated her 80th birthday.
Viola was married to Mr. Thom Foulks for 49 years before Thom passed away in 2004. Besides being a loving mother, Viola was a medical transcriptionist most of her professional life. She operated two successful businesses and supported doctor's offices and hospitals nationwide. She was highly respected in her field and trained a host of transcriptionist's serving the medical field today. She was a Medical Records Staff member with Memorial Hospital for many years and went on to start her own business called "VJF Enterprises" and then "Words Plus" which was ahead of its time offering in-house admin functions for a wide range of small businesses leasing office space from her. She also learned to use the CPT Word Processing long before most people used PCs.
Most of her adult life was spent in Colorado Springs, Colorado and Gillette, Wyoming. Viola leaves behind four children, several Grandchildren and even a few Great Grandkids...
Thom, Kathy, Joe, and Dana
Thom & Wendy Foulks gave Viola two Grandkids (Chantelle and Tyler)
Kathy and Jeff Downey gave four Grandkids (Kelly, Paul, Jill, and John)
Joe and Cyndi Foulks gave Viola one grandchild, (Sarah)
Great Grand Kids include (with):
(Kelly and KC McMillin) - Zachary, Carson, & Alex
(Paul and Echo Downey) - Aiden, Gabriella, Ana, & Quin
(Jill and Leo Ocho) - Mya, Memo, Jason, & AJ
This was her 81st year on earth. We will miss her dearly. But, we are happy she is no longer suffering the horrible effects of Alzheimer's.
Plans are in progress for a celebration of Viola's life to take place in June in Gillette, Wyoming. Due to the heartbreaking illness that took Vi's life, in the past few years she has lost contact with her many good friends and family. We are requesting that anyone who might have a memory of Vi please share it with us and each other in the Legacy.com guest book.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Sponsored by Viola's children.
I was so sorry to hear about Vi's
passing. She stood up with me when I got married. We were good friends in High school. Hadn't heard from her from her for a long time and was out
on the internet trying when I saw that she had passed away. Was very sorry
to hear that.
Lauretta (McKeever) Holton
Lauretta Holton
August 16, 2014
There is a story that I doubt if Vi put in her memory book. You may or may not know that her nickname was "Biddy," given to her when she was born because she was so little. This stuck through most of high school, especially by her family. (David gave her this name)
Anyway, when we lived in the country, David, I, Doris, Vi and sometimes other cousins would go up in the hayloft of the barn and put on shows. Vi was only six or seven but she always sang. She was always introduced as "The one and only Biddy" because she never changed notes or keys.
Living on the farm was probably the best years of our lives even though we had neither electricity nor inside plumbing.
I really miss her already and know that you do, too.
I think of all of you. Just remember all the good things and happy times that she and your Dad gave you.
Love to all of you and God Bless You.
Lois
Lois Martin
May 8, 2014
May 7, 2014
May 7, 2014
One of the best memories I have of my Mom being both a Mom and a friend was in high school. I had written a paper on Robespierre and the French Revolution. Of course, I waited until the last minute to ask my Mom for help.
I went into the office, WordsPlus, the day before it was due. If I remember right, it was also the day of President Reagan's Inauguration. She did type it up for me with the stipulation she would not fix grammar or spelling. She would not make the paper get a better grade except for maybe appearance.
In the background, on TV, was the inauguration. I remember during Reagan's speech Mom teared up a couple times. I was surprised to see her do that because of a speech.
I did get an A on the paper. And, I do think she must have fixed a few things here and there. She could not help herself.
Dana Foulks
May 7, 2014
May 7, 2014
In about 2000, I began work at Penrose in transcription, and Vi was the one assigned to help me. Being just 5 years younger, we shared many things in addition to our job. We became good friends as well. Working with Vi was a treat, and we shared some laughs along the way.
When she moved to Wyoming, we kept in touch. We were able to stop and visit her a couple times on our way to Montana to visit family, and she was a lovely hostess. When she was moving, she gave me a beautiful shamrock plant, which is still thriving. I think of her each day as I enjoy our plant!
-Diane Kennedy
April 27, 2014
Vi Foulks found me in Fort Wayne, Indiana. We connected through transcription work. Vi was a genuinely friendly person and she always carried a smile on her face. That is what I remember most about Vi. Vi had stored over the years many excellent transcription gems that she willingly shared to help the job go easier. I thoroughly enjoyed working with Vi and found her to be a true inspiration. Vi and I had numerous conversations and shared stories about Colorado Springs where I had lived many years past. Through Vi, I came to know the wonderful family that she was so proud of. God sent Vi to Indiana for a reason and along with Vi, I got to know the family she cherished. I count in my blessings these amazing long distance friends who many years later I still keep in my thoughts and prayers.
Please know that I am thinking of your family with compassion and care, and wishing you peace to soften your sadness. I am blessed to have known Vi and the wonderful family behind this amazing woman.
~Tera R. Fredrickson
April 26, 2014
Reading others' memories of working and being friends with my mom makes me want to also share my memories, not so much about being her daughter but as her employee and colleague. I started working for her in the afternoons when I was in high school. She would have me copy type the “normal” reports, like the multiple T&As. She hated copy typing. I then progressed to the “easier” doctors. I worked at home, in our basement. After one particularly frustrating evening of feeling like I was getting nowhere, I had resolved to tell my mom in the morning that I no longer wanted to be trained to transcribe. I went upstairs and found my dad still awake, probably watching Johnny Carson. He proceeded to tell me how mom had told him how proud she was of me for trying and working so hard. My heart sank and I didn't tell him what I had decided and I didn't tell mom until after maybe 30 years of transcribing.
My mom was wonderful as a mother and maybe more wonderful as a wife, but in our home she took backstage to my father, and probably to us, too. She seemed to want it that way…In her professional life, though, she shined so brightly. She worked harder than anyone I have ever met. She was a wonderful teacher and if you were willing to try, she was always willing to help and explain. She was the one with all the answers, but she usually just told me where to find them myself – invaluable lessons for our line of work. When I married and moved to Wyoming, she sold me an IBM Selectric and a Dictaphone so that I could possibly start my own business. Within a year I had a few clients of my own. She was always there to answer any questions and help me along in the process. Over the years we helped each other out, filling in for each other or sharing clients. She began a legacy of transcription in our family in that besides myself, three of my children have worked as transcriptionists, one using it to help with expenses while in medical school, another while being a stay-at-home mom (like me) and the third still working for me while in college. The thing is, she would have done this for anyone who wanted to try.
I feel very lucky in that I did not know my mom just as her daughter, but that I had time to also know her as a colleague and friend, and to see her in action in HER element, and I am so glad that she had that. I am also coming to believe that I was also lucky to have gotten to know a different part of her, with the Alzheimer's. That is a hard one because so many times when she was here I just missed the person that she was. I am coming (slowly) to the realization that she was always the same person, though, and that I was just getting to know a different part.
I simply cannot express enough gratitude to those of you who have shared memories of our mom. I think especially with what my mom, and we as her family, went through with Alzheimer's, to us those memories are priceless and we are eager to read every one over and over. Again, we encourage anyone to share, or to share again. Thank you.
Kathy (Foulks) Downey
April 25, 2014
I first got to know Vi when she or one of her employees provided transcription fill-in for me at St. Francis Hospital and over the years we became friends. What a truly amazing person she was. Vi was never too busy to help when I would call her with a question or just needed someone to talk to. She was an amazing lady in all aspects of her life. Even when she was growing her business, she would refer potential clients to me when I went out on my own. Vi was an "encourager" to most of the old-timer transcriptionists in Colorado Springs as well as the state of Colorado.
My thoughts and prayers to not only Vi's family, but all who knew and will miss her.
Lee Worley
April 24, 2014
April 23, 2014
Viola was always a good cousin to me. I remember so well the family gatherings we used to have. She was so smart and capable. Our family gets smaller.
John Hughes MD
April 23, 2014
It is with a lump in my throat but a smile on my face that I remember Vi, first my co-worker, then my neighbor, my boss, my teacher, my encourager, and through it all a true friend. I am reminded of all the conversations over a cup or three of coffee, all the desserts we enjoyed (anything with cream cheese!), all the lunches out, all the laughs, all of the sharings about family, all the business talks, all the transcription critiques, and all the times she gave me a boost when I needed it. Without her leadership and encouragement I never would have succeeded as a medical transcriptionist for 40 years or had a successful home business. I used to tell Vi she should hang her shingle, Viola Foulks, M.D. She could store so much knowledge and had an incredible memory. I am thankful for all the tough challenges she presented to me, for making me work hard and for believing in me. The last time I saw Vi was when my husband and I spent the night with her at her 'house on the hill' in Wyoming when we were en route to Alaska. After years apart and many miles separating us, we could always pick up just where we left off. I still have the plaque she gave me for my birthday 30 years ago which reads, "Finding a friend like you is like discovering a rare shell on the beach...a precious gift." RIP my friend Vi and thank you for being that rare shell for me.
Paulette Meredith
April 22, 2014
Kathy, I am so sorry for the loss of your Mom. I know the last few years were very hard for all of you. I lost my Dad January 19, 2013, and it has been rough year. My memory of your Mom is of a strong, very smart woman who not only was my best friend's Mom, but also my first boss. I remember her teaching me transcription and giving me such a chance when I really knew nothing. I remember a wicked sense of humor and a wonderful laugh. She made work a good place to be. Not to say did not make us earn our pay. She also holds a special place in my heart for sharing her wedding dress with me. I think of both of you every time I see my wedding pictures. I know her illness stole a lot of her from all of you, but you can be proud to have been her children and grandchildren and even to be her great grandchildren. Thom and Vi Foulks left a strong legacy to their children of love and respect
Kelly (Gonzalez) Quillin
April 22, 2014
I loved Vi. For now 25 years, I have been an MT, and who taught me all I ever needed to know.. Yep, Vi, keeping me grounded and giving me confidence. To her I own the last 25 years of my career, and she was just so fun to be around.. I will miss you my dear sweet friend, and your intelligence and support in the transcription industry is like no other. RIP my dear friend.
Cindee Crombie
April 21, 2014
This amazing woman, profoundly changed my life. She was my mentor, cheerleader, grammar coach, and most of all, my friend. I can hear her voice, her laugh, and most of all her wise counsel and it always brings a smile to my face. Vi was one in a million and my life is much richer for having had the extreme honor and privilege of knowing her. My love and condolences to her family. Rest assured, your mom left her mark in this world and it is indelible...and might I add...grammatically correct!
Patty Wiley
April 21, 2014
My condolences to the family! She was a wonderful boss and friend! Cherish those memorial of your special lady.
Victoria Crouch
April 20, 2014
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