- Date Of Birth: May 22, 1934
- Date Of Death: October 27, 2021
- State: Arizona
Connie Jeannette Vinton 87 of Scottsdale AZ passed away peacefully on October 27th, 2021. James, husband for 67 years and Vikki Epstein, daughter were with Connie.
Connie was born May 22, 1934 in Kosciusko County, Indiana to Virgil Lamar Schannep and Frances Pence Schannep. Connie worked as a REALTOR for 30 years in Indianaoplis, Plainfield and Mooresville Indiana.
Connie is survived by her husband James, daughter Vikki (Eddie) Scottsdale, AZ; sister Darlene, Fort Wayne, IN; brother Tim, Chicago, IL. Connie was preceded in death by her parents, Virgil and Frances Schannep, brothers Jerry, Wikky, Mark and Jimmy Joe. Connie will be remembered for her caring and loving manner in which she treated others.
Internment will be in a reserved chamber for Connie within her Maternal Grandfather, J.K. Pence’s Mausoleum in South Whitely, Indiana.
Connie was the eldest of seven children, five brothers and one sister. Their family moved to Arizona about 1942+-. This move was necessary for Frances as she had tuberculosis, and was recommended to do so by her doctors. Virgil was a farmer so prior to leaving Indiana the family had to “Make Sale” of everything they owned at the farm. The trip would not have been possible without help from friends who gave up some of their own World War II “gas ration” coupons. A long hard trip in a 1937+- auto pulling a house trailer of their belongings, food supplies and one dog.
Connie attended an elementary School in South Phoenix and being possibly the only blonde haired girl in that school at that time, she was asked to play their Angel in a school play. She also attended Elementary School, Balsz 4309 E. Belleview St. in North East Phoenix. This was close to their home on East McDowell Road.
Connie graduated “Pre-Nursing” from Phoenix Union High School at E. Van Buren and Seventh St. in 1952 along with her future husband, James. On February 28, 1954 Connie and James became Mr. & Mrs Vinton at the Bible Baptist Church 2320 N. 7th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85006.
Several moves followed: first to Gila Bend, AZ where Connie worked as a waitress until Oct, 1956 when her husband was drafted into the US Army for two years.
Upon returning Connie and Jim relocate to a park with a private bathroom along side their parking space. There was a swimming pool and laundry room on site. Connie is fed up with the trailer life, so Connie and Jim buy a 3 BR 2 B 1-car Gar ($10,700 Mar 1959).
Our wonderful daughter, Vikki Lynn Vinton was born March 28, 1959 in Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix.
Husband, Jim did not receive any credit/time for being in the Army, from the Arizona State Highway Dept., no raise, no elevated position. Therefore, Connie and he agreed to answer two “Surveyor Needed” ads. One was for New Mexico Highway Dept. @ $100+, the other was from the NEW State of Alaska $300+. New Mexico answered first so the faithful Stude was traded for a small 4 door Renault for the trip to Farmington, NM. That car was not good climbing the Rocky Mountain highways in New Mexico. It acted like it was starved for oxygen. Connie loved to travel and seldom ever scared, except for the scraping of a highway barrier on a rather narrow cliff road. She was actually glad the barrier was there on her side.
Sold and moved to Farmington, New Mexico, Oct 1960. Rented a nice 2 BR house on Piedra Vista Dr. In December, Connie, Jim and Vikki experienced chopping down their own 8-foot tall Christmas tree to strap onto the small Renault. Big tree, small house. In March 1961 Alaska responded with an acceptable wage. Connie was so against this new move, she responded with a “twin motorcycle purchase” for her and Jim to NOT MAKE THE ALASKA MOVE. Connie gave in and agreed to a new venture in Alaska, we left N.M. March 1961. Connie believed we should be in a larger, newer vehicle. She approved upgrade to a Rambler station wagon style.
ALASKA, WOW! This was a long trip on unpaved highway but fully snow covered, which actually helped. Every other one of the roadside facilities were still closed this time of year, not much traffic. Our stop in Tok, Alaska (1,258 miles from Dawson Creek, Canada) was for a warm room and warm garage, it was below zero with freezing winds.
Next morning it was onto Valdez, AK for Connie, daughter and husband. We all learned how to get along without much local shopping. A grocery, a bank and a drug store that sold much needed REAL WINTER CLOTHING. With Connie and Vikki stuck in Valdez and Jim working 200+/- miles north, most of each week. Not a surprise, we made it only one year. Connie got to pick our next stop, Indiana where her Mom, Dad, sister and brothers lived.
We rented a descent 2-bedroom double in north Indianapolis. Our next move was to Mooresville, IN where Connie started a new career in Real Estate in 1965. She drove a rusted out floor 1954 Chevy sedan where you could see the pavement traveling fast under you. In 1969 Connie graduated to owning her own real estate company with two offices for 10 years. She has attended many state and national Real Estate Conventions since 1972. She earned her GRI (Graduate REALTOR Institute) designation January 10, 1972. She became the first lady President of the Hendricks County Board of REALTORS in 1972. Connie was their REALTOR of the Year in 1975. She went on to earn the much desired CRS (Certified Residential Specialist) designation November 12, 1979. Connie worked hard to receive the CRB (Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager) pin on November 9, 1984. She believed in education and worked with kids in the Plainfield School system on overcoming absenteeism and how to improve themselves.
The F. C. Tucker Company bought Vinton-Mills Real Estate firm in 1979 and made her the first woman Sr. Vice President and Co-Manager of the Indianapolis West Side office. Connie worked on several Metropolitan Indianapolis Board of REALTORs committees over a number of years. She was recognized by United Way with a Meritorious Service Award. Connie served on the Plainfield, IN Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and on the Plainfield, IN Economic Development Committee. She was a member of Toastmasters and Delta Theta Tau Sorority.
Connie wrote an article for the Indiana REALTOR Magazine. She ended that article by saying: “There are many wonderful benefits we receive living in this great land of ours. Being able to help people by working in the Real Estate business is one of the best.”
