Vivian Brunner

Brunner, Vivian
Passed away on Sat Sept. 24. A longtime resident and native Californian, she grew up with her two siblings, Francis and Donald Hypes, in Downey, CA. Born in 1926, she was raised by her loving mother and father, Mr. and Mrs. Emerson Hypes, a family that established and ran their own furniture company in So. Cal. for some 60 years, the Meredith Manufacturing Co. Vivian left for Stanford where she studied mathematics, and following the war she married a handsome young vet -- dynamic young fighter pilot John David Brunner. In the mid '50s the young couple did something a bit unusual: they sold their home, stashed their belongings and went to France to study at the Sorbonne, only to return to the States just as unexpectedly two years later upon learning that they would have a child. Dissatisfied with commercial art, the young couple embarked upon a new adventure in the early 1960s: They created ran, built and performed their own shows, with large marionette puppets they created, and toured the southland performing shows under the name "The Popcorn Theater Marionettes." Delighting the crowds with their unique creations, which Vivian designed the costumes for, the couple performed shows they created throughout the '60s, 70s and 80s. David passed away in 1993. They were married for 46 1/2 years. Vivian and David are survived by their only son Paris Brunner, Esq., and his beautiful daughter Brielle. Memorial services for Vivian will be held at First Christian Church of No.Hllywd on Sat. Oct. 22 at 1pm.