Viola Blanche Waddell

VIOLA BLANCHE WADDELL 1915 to 2005 A Life Well Lived

Viola Blanche Waddell, a lady of class, character and courage, died on Tuesday, November 1, 2005, in her Fresno residence, with family by her side, after a long battle with cancer. She was 90. Born on May 13, 1915, to Pearl and Blanche Campbell in Sanger, Vi was the oldest of four sisters. On the first day that Vi went to school, she knew she wanted to be the teacher she would become. She graduated from Sanger High School and Fresno State College, and worked 28 years in public schools as an elementary teacher and speech therapist in Fresno and Los Angeles counties. The final 14 years of her career were spent in the Clovis Unified School District. Vi married Aubrey Waddell in 1948, and they had three sons. She often said that the happiest period of her life was the seven years she took off from work to care for her young boys. Always an avid reader, in her younger years she loved to travel and go dancing. In her last years, she was a devoted member of the Unity Church of Fresno. She believed in education and passed those values on to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She always said that one of the happiest days of her life was when she graduated from college. Her love of life, her positive, uplifting attitude, and her goodness were an inspiration to everyone she touched. Another of her happiest days was the celebration of her 90th birthday at a backyard party in June attended by scores of admiring friends and family members. An old friend from the Kenmore Drive South neighborhood where Vi raised her children recently wrote to Vi, recalling her friendship and wisdom, "You were always such a lovely, soft lady and I admired you no end." Vi was beloved by her daughters-in-law, and the pain of her last months was eased by their tireless care of her. She was preceded in death in 1971 by her husband; and her three sisters, twins Evelyn Gospodnetich of Watsonville and Esther Sherman of Fremont, and June Lutman of Fresno. Vi is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, John and Jill Waddell of Fresno, David and Karen Waddell of Chico, and Paul and Heather Waddell of Oakhurst; as well as five grandchildren and three great-grandsons. A Memorial Service will be held at the Unity Church of Fresno, 315 W. Shields Ave., on Saturday, November 5, 2005, at 11:00 a.m. Vi wanted remembrances in her name to be made to Unity Church or a charity of the giver's choice.