Vivian Delores Shelquist

Vivian Delores Shelquist, age 91, of rural Albia, died Thursday evening June 18, 2009, at the Monroe County Hospital in Albia, Iowa. Vivian was born on September 22, 1917 to Thomas Newman and Mary Lewis Forsyth in rural Monroe County, Iowa. She married Marion Rampy on December 5, 1941. Marion died in 1951. She later married Wilbur Townsley in 1958. He died in 1968. She married Carl Shelquist in 1970. Carl also precedes Vivian. Vivian attended and graduated from Eddyville High School. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education in 1962 and a Masters of Arts degree in 1964, both from Drake University. Vivian taught in rural schools of Monroe County, and at Chillicothe and Eddyville, as well as 17 years at Wildwood Elementary School in Ottumwa. Vivian taught for a total of 43 years. Vivian was very active in volunteer work all her life. She was a past president of the Monroe County Retired Teachers Association, and the Wapello County Retired Teachers. She has been a member of the Ottumwa Branch of American University Women since 1966. She was an active member of the Pleasant Corners Baptist Church as a Sunday school teacher and Mission Chairperson. Vivian was also a member of the Church Women United, Monroe County Farm Bureau, Daughters of the American Revolution, Monroe County Republicans, League of Women Voters, National Federation of Republican Women, The State Republican Party, The Sierra Club, The Wilderness Society, Greenpeace, Amnesty International, and The Monroe County Genealogical Society. In 1991 Vivian was named in the Who's Who in American Women. She also served on the Presidential Advisory Council on Aging and the Presidents Council on the Quality of Rural Life, during George H. W. Bush administration, (1990-1991). Vivian is survived by two sons, Thomas Rampy of Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, and Richard Rampy of Eddyville; two grandchildren, Dr. Thomas Marion Rampy, and Bobbi Marie Stewart; and four great grandchildren. Vivian was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and May; husbands, Marion Rampy, Wilbur Townsley, and Carl Shelquist; and one sister, Goldie Franklin. Funeral services will be held at 2:00P.M., Monday, June 22, 2009, at Pleasant Corners Baptist Church in rural Monroe County, with the Rev. Lois Williams of the Pleasant Corner Baptist Church and Vicar Sue Palmer of Grace Episcopal Church of Albia officiating. A private family burial will follow services at Service Chapel Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 3:00 P.M., Sunday, June 21, 2009 at the Winfield Funeral Home in Albia. Vivian's family will be present from 3 to 6:00 P.M. Sunday evening.

Vivian Delores Shelquist

September 22, 1917 - June 18, 2009