Vivian Shirley Wilder

1925 - 2017

Vivian Shirley Marshall Wilder, 92, a longtime Simsbury resident and widow of Frank Wallace Wilder, died Thursday, August 3, 2017. Mrs. Wilder was born on June 9, 1925 in West Haven, CT, the daughter of Guy and Marion (Werner) Marshall. Growing up she lived in Forest Hills, New York; Westfield, New Jersey; Massachusetts and Connecticut. She was a graduate of Norwood High School in Norwood, MA, and worked as a reporter for the Norwood Daily Messenger. Upon graduation from the white-gloved Katherine Gibbs School in New York City, Vivian found employment in the city. While married she was executive secretary to presidents of the former Ensign-Bickford Co. in Simsbury. She was a member of the First Church of Christ in Simsbury, taught Sunday school, spearheaded an effort to provide food assistance to children at the Sand School in Hartford, served as president of the Simsbury Garden Club, and was a founding member of the Simsbury Committee on Aging. A gourmet cook, Vivian and her husband loved entertaining and playing bridge. Vivian was predeceased by her fraternal twin sister, Ruth Milkey of Granby. Survivors include two daughters, Lynn Coutermarsh of Colchester, Vermont and her husband Thomas Coutermarsh, and Lee Wilder of Simsbury and her partner Daniel P. Jones of West Hartford. "She was a true spirit of love and joy," said Lee, her daughter. Calling hours will be Friday August 11 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Vincent Funeral Home in Simsbury. A memorial service will be held Saturday, August 12, at 11 a.m. at the First Church of Christ, 689 Hopmeadow St. in Simsbury. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Village for Families and Children, 1680 Albany Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105. Please visit Vivian's "Book of Memories" at www.vincentfuneralhome.com for online condolences.