- Date Of Birth: March 9, 1925
- Date Of Death: June 26, 2022
- State: Indiana
Vivian was born on the 9th of March 1925, to the late James Newton and Leonora Ida (Metz) Tate in Brazil, Indiana. She was the younger of the 2 children, sister Betty Jean preceding her by twenty months. The family lived in a small house in the Stringtown Neighborhood of Brazil, surrounded by a wealth of relatives and close friends. Stringtown was a tight-knit, blue collar community, predominantly inhabited by European immigrants, who came to work in the Coal Mines and Clay Factories. The Tates were no strangers to hard work. Vivian’s father, James, a humble, Scots-Irish, World War I Veteran, went to work in the deep coal mines at age 14. Her mother, Leonora, a generous and social woman of French and German ancestry was an active figure in the community and work tirelessly in support of the family. Caught in the grip of the Great Depression, hardship and struggle were the norm of Vivian’s childhood. The family raised pigs, and chickens, and tended a large garden on their one-acre backyard. At the age of 6 or 7, Vivian and her sister Jean took over the household chores and were rewarded with a weekly allowance of fifteen cents a-piece. With this, the girls would treat themselves to Saturday afternoon double-feature movies and an ice cream cone afterwards. (Vivian always looked back on those Saturdays she and Jean shared with a great fondness.
After High School, Vivian work at a local restaurant long enough to pay for a semester of classes at Terre Haute Commercial College. There she learned clerical and bookkeeping skills and upon graduation secured an office position with Kroger, also located in Terra Haute. Vivian worked there for four years commuting daily by bus from Brazil. While at Kroger, Vivian met co-worker, Louise Imogene Mitchell (Mitch) and the two became fast friends and as time went on life-long best friends. Mitch had a cousin, Russell Mumford, that she thought would be a good match for Vivian. World War II was on and Russell was stationed in Honolulu, Hawaii with the US Navy. The two corresponded for several months before finally meeting when Russell was transferred back to the States to study Medicine. Russell had a choice of three different Universities but chose to attend DePauw in Greencastle – no doubt, because of its close-proximity to Vivian. The two were married three years later, on June 7, 1947. Vivian’s sister, Jean, and Russell’s cousin, Grover Hartman stood up with them. (Jean and Grover were married 4 months later).
After their marriage, the couple made their home in West Lafayette, Russell having transfer to Purdue University at war’s end to pursue a career in Wildlife Management. As he earned his degrees and taught, Vivian raised the children. First, son James was born in 1948, daughter Lynn followed in 1954, and Russell Jr. in 1961. Between baby’s, Vivian also worked outside the home. She computed inventory for Monon Railroad and phone bills for Lafayette Telephone. She compiled data for the USDA, was a Keyboard Operator in the Registrar’s Office at Purdue, and Secretary for the US Fish and Wildlife Service. While working at Purdue, Vivian began taking classes. Despite a lifelong struggle with dyslexia and profound hearing loss she was consistently recognized for being in the top 500 students academically, was a member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, and in 1982, at age of 57 earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. Vivian said she chose Psychology so she could figure out what was wrong with her husband and kids.
After earning her degree, she retired. Russell retired from Purdue as Professor Emeritus in 1988, having put in over 40 years with the University. During his time with Purdue, Vivian twice accompanied Russell on 6-month sabbatical’s. The first to South Africa, and later to the country of Brazil. The couple shared a love of animals and the adventure of far-away, wild places. In retirement, the travels became more frequent. Together they saw Walrus in the Arctic; vast colonies of Flying Fox Bats Fox Bats (the largest bats in the world) in Australia; and Seals and Penguins, by the millions, in the Antarctic. While riding elephants, they saw Tigers in India; Mountain Gorillas in Africa; and many other wonders.
Vivian and Russell were avid antique collectors and enjoyed road tripping in the search of treasures. Vivian amassed an impressive collection of antique glass, specializing in toothpick holders and salt and pepper shakers. She belonged to collector societies and enjoyed getting together with fellow members at annual conventions. Vivian had many interests and talents. She made wheel thrown pottery and wonderful clay figurines. She had a great eye, and her water-color paintings are especially good. She enjoyed knitting, and making quilts, and was an avid photographer. She compiled a highly detailed history of both sides of her family, rich with handed down stories, photographs, newspapers articles, and courthouse records, all done before the age of computers. Vivian read extensively and did a year’s long, in depth study of The Bible. She did everything with a dogged determination and strict attention to detail. Vivian’s mother would say that she “went at everything like she was killing snakes”. I agree. once Vivian started something, she couldn’t rest until it was completed.
She was very independent and in all-circumstances, would choose self-action over asking for help. Although extremely talented, Vivian was never entirely satisfied with anything she did. She was modest in her ways and had a simple taste in clothes and food. She was extremely tough, a woman of Faith, and absolutely unafraid of death.
In her younger years, Vivian liked to swim and sun. She was a talented flyfisher and good rifle shot.
She enjoyed bird hikes and playing cards and Yahtzee at family get-togethers. She had a good sense of humor and a great laugh. The last few years, Vivian was content to stay home and take life easy. She enjoyed watching Western movies and said that they reminded her of the Saturday afternoon double-features she and Jean went to as kids.
Vivian was a gentle soul, loving, kind, and deeply loyal. Most of all, she loved her family. Her most precious possessions were her pictures of them.
Vivian was preceded in passing by her husband of 74 years, Russell Eugene Mumford, by 5 months; her sister, Betty Jean (Tate) Hartman of Marshall, IL; and dear friend, Louise Imogene (Mitchell) Allison of Terre Haute.
She is survived by 2 sons, James Lee Mumford, (wife, Mary Anne) of Newburgh, IN and Russell Eugene Mumford Jr. of West Lafayette; her daughter, Jean Lynne (Mumford) Lesley of Lafayette; 2 niece’s, Alice Ann (Hartman) Pine (husband, Gerald) of Marshall, IL and Rebecca Sue Hartman Cummins (husband, Bob) of Montgomery Center, VT; 2 grandchildren, Jessica Lynne Jeffery of Morristown, AZ and John Marwood Jeffery III of Kachina Village AZ; 4 great- grandchildren, Jaelynne, Andrew, Maresha, and Charlee; and oldest dear friend, and relative by marriage, Anna Maxine Metz of Brazil, IN.
