Vivian Luise Stidham
Vivian Luise Stidham, a resident of Sanibel since 1975, went to her eternal home to be with her savior and comforter on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2013. She was ninety years old and was “still looking to ?make it to 100.”
She was married for 71 years to Raymond Stidham, who is still with his family on Sanibel. Luise was born in Insko, Ky., in 1922. She and Ray were married on Sept. 12, 1942 in Bonham, Texas, where Ray was in Cadet School with the U.S. Army Air Corps. Later, Luise joined the WACs and was stationed at West Palm Beach, Fla., even learning to fly as well.
She graduated from business college and later worked many years as a manager at 711, including the original Sanibel 711 store. Luise loved spending time at the beach and traveling, especially on the Blue Ridge Parkway in the North Carolina mountains. She also thoroughly enjoyed fellowship within two church families: Pleasant Gap Baptist Church in Burnsville, N.C., and Southwest Baptist Church in Fort Myers.
Right up until her recent sudden illness, Luise was extremely independent, enjoying the beach, getting together with family and friends, and driving herself wherever she needed to go. She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and dear friend, and best friend to her daughter, Gretchen.
Luise will be forever missed, but we know she is in a better place, and she is happy. She is survived by her husband Ray, daughter Gretchen, son-in-law Armin, grandson Byron, Judy Regner, and Chester Podgorny of Fort Myers, and many other extended family and close, dear friends. Luise wished for any contributions in her memory to be made to Southwest Baptist Church, 16940 McGregor Blvd, Fort Myers, 33908, or to Hope Hospice House, 9470 Health Park Circle, Fort Myers, 33908.