Vivian Olivia Stepp

Vivian Olivia Pittman Stepp, widow of Dr. James Marvin Stepp, and formerly of Riggs Drive, Clemson, SC, passed away peacefully Saturday, November 15, 2014, at Clemson Downs. A native of Bishopville, SC, she was born September 4, 1918, and was the daughter of the late Edgar H. and Margaret Stephenson "Birdie" Pittman. Vivian graduated from Winthrop College in 1939 with a B.S. degree in Business. After college she taught English, typing, and shorthand in the Ellenboro, NC, public schools, and worked as a secretary for Kraft Cheese Company in Charlotte, NC. In June 1940 she was hired as secretary to Dr. H.P. Cooper, Dean of the College of Agriculture at Clemson College. She became a devoted Clemson Tiger and never left. Shortly after arriving at Clemson she met her future husband, Dr. James Marvin Stepp, who was a new faculty member, and they were married June 21, 1942, in her parents' home in Bishopville in the midst of World War II. Vivian took leave from her job at Clemson in 1952 to raise her four boys. She returned to work for the college in 1962 in the Registrar's Office. She was secretary to Kenneth Vickery, Dean of Admissions, until her retirement from Clemson in 1978. In 1968 she was named Clemson's Mother of the Year by Tiger Brotherhood fraternity. She and her husband were avid Tiger fans and held season football tickets since Memorial Stadium opened in 1942. She purchased season tickets and attended Clemson football games until 2007. She was a member of the Clemson United Methodist Church, having joined in 1940 shortly after she arrived to work at the college. She enjoyed sewing, reading, drawing, decorating, keeping up with her grandchildren, cooking for her family, and, of course, shopping. Always curious about new technology and news of the world in general, Vivian kept a keen awareness of the world about her. This curiosity allowed her to converse with her friends and family on any subject, and she often amazed her grandchildren with her ability to keep up with their progressive ideas. She learned in her time at Winthrop that knowledge of current events allowed one to engage in social conversation rather than sit idly at the dinner table or at a party. Because her mother was the organist at Bethlehem United Methodist Church in Bishopville, she had a love of music and introduced her children to piano lessons at a young age. In recent years she passed happy hours playing familiar songs on a small electric keyboard in her home. A particular favorite was Love Letters in the Sand. Vivian and her husband Jim built their house on Riggs Drive in 1957 and raised their family in that wonderful neighborhood. After Jim died in 1994 she continued to live among her Riggs Drive friends until moving to Clemson Downs in 2004. She was delighted to reunite with many of her Riggs Drive neighbors and friends at the Downs. Even though she lived in Clemson since 1940, Vivian never forgot her Bishopville and Lee County roots. She loved to reminisce with her brother about growing up in Bishopville. She was a wonderful mother to her boys and a loving mother-in-law and grandmother. A genteel Southern lady, she has left a special imprint on all who knew her and will be greatly missed. Surviving are sons James, Jr. (Kathy) of Union, SC, John (Susan) of Clemson, SC, Kenneth (Wilma) of Manchester, KY, and Benjamin (Julie) of Greer, SC.; grandchildren Karen (Britt) Rogers of Simpsonville, SC; Joel Stepp of Anderson, SC; Matthew Stepp of Atlanta, GA; Joseph Stepp of Charlotte, NC; Katie (Patrick) Nicolai of Oberhausen, Germany; Carson and Conrad Stepp of Manchester, KY; Michele Stepp of Greenville, SC; Kendall, Cameron, and Ryan Stepp of Greer, SC.; great-grandchildren Liam and Evan Nicolai of Oberhausen, Germany, and Drea Ann Stepp of Anderson, SC (daughter of Janean and the late Brian Stepp). Affectionately known as "Bibber" to her beloved surviving brother Henry Pittman (Margaret) of Spartanburg, she is also survived by sister-in-law Elizabeth Stepp Adams of West Columbia, SC, and numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by sisters Margaret Baskin of Bishopville, SC, Isabelle DuBose of Darlington, SC, and Christine Cummings of Bishopville, SC, and grandchildren Brian Stepp of Anderson, SC, and Mark Stepp of Inverness, FL. A memorial service will be held at Clemson United Methodist Church at 11:00 AM Tuesday, November 18, 2014, and the family will receive friends afterwards at the church. Interment will be private at Woodland Cemetery (Cemetery Hill) on the Clemson campus. The family would like to express its sincere thanks to the staff and caregivers at Clemson Downs and Providence Care Hospice. Memorials may be made to the Dr. James M. Stepp Memorial Scholarship Endowment at Clemson University, c/o Clemson University Foundation, 110 Daniel Dr., Clemson, SC 29634, or Clemson United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 590, Clemson, SC 29633, or the charity of one's choice. Condolences may be expressed online at www.robinsonfuneralhomes.com or at Duckett-Robinson Funeral Home, Central, SC.