Viola Jane Wilborn-Lewis

Viola (Vi) Jane Wilborn-Lewis
Of Roseburg, Oregon, gently passed away at age 91, surrounded by her family on Tuesday, August 2, 2011. When she passed she was holding her youngest son's hand, gently squeezed it, and raised their hands together as a final dedication to the love she shared with her family. Vi, a southern girl from Louisville, Kentucky, was born July 18,1920. She would often talk of her adventures as a child, surviving the great flood of 1937 and being rescued by the National Guard and taken to safety in a garbage truck. Her spirit of adventure showed up when she played hooky from school to go see the epic film, "Gone with the Wind" nearly being caught by her mother who was attending at the same time. Vi was the daughter of Kate and Erwin Fendley and older sister to Frank Fendley, After completing high school she attended the University of Louisville and received her Associates of Art Degree in Sociology. There she met the first love of her life, George Edward Cooper and they married in January of 1942. After her husband returned from the war, they decided on a new adventure and moved to Encino, California while George completed his architecture degree. Vi brought her southern charm out west and was a mother active in her community. Her children fondly remember the large neighborhood potlucks and gatherings their mother organized" Vi was instrumental and successful in making sure the children were safe by organizing a petition to bring sidewalks to their neighborhood. She was active in charitable organizations and her church. Vi and George had five children ages three months to 17 years when he unexpectedly died in 1959. Vi was a young widow who modeled strength when she had to return to work to support her family. Viola eventually married the second love other life, Ted Wilborn and surprised her children with a new addition to the family. Vi worked and helped to run Ted's heating and air conditioning business. While pregnant with her sixth child, she and Ted moved a house onto property they bought in Tarzana, California. She would recount the story of sitting on the roof as the movers slowly drove the house down the street and she would "lift" the wires to make room for the rooftop. Vi worked for the US Postal Service, before taking on a new move with her family to Roseburg, Oregon. Never one to sit still, Vi worked for Struthers Furniture and later became the proud owner of two Bressler's Ice Cream Stores in Roseburg. Vi worked many hours running her business and provided work for many young people in Roseburg. She eventually closed her stores and went to work for the Douglas County Museum. She used to say that Daniel Robertson was the "best boss" she ever worked for. After Ted passed away in April of 1997, Vi met her third "love of her life", Harry Lewis. Vi loved Harry and their romance bloomed. After Vi ran for County Commissioner in 2000, she and Harry married. She was active in many organizations, clubs and committees. Vi was instrumental in the founding of St. Joseph's Community Kitchen program, a member of the Business and Professional Women's Organization, the Douglas County Democrats, and in helping to establish the Agnes Nemec Cancer Foundation. She was also selected as the First Citizen of Winston in 1997 and was a Greater United Way Board member in Douglas County. Vi was a woman of peace and active in backing this up by participating many times with the "Women in Black" project. She wrote many "letters to the editor" making her point about social injustice and politics. Vi served on the Oregon State's Justice Department's Citizen's Review Board which advocated services for children in foster care. Vi continued her quest for education by attending a writing class at Linus Oaks. She participated in a book club and sometimes admitted to using "cliff notes" if she was unable to finish the book, was a member of The Red Hat Society and enjoyed the game of pinochle and played religiously, always seeking the "perfect hand". She was a woman of strong faith and enjoyed attending mass and services with Deacon John at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Vi is survived by her children Jim Cooper and his wife, Judy of Pollack Pines, California; Patti Busse and her husband, Rodger of Ashland, Oregon; Joe Cooper and his wife Donna of Roseburg, Oregon; John Cooper of Yakima, Washington and Daniel Wilborn and his wife Kathy of Roseburg. She also fondly referred to her daughters-in-law as her "daughters in love" and was very adamant in saying that on a daily basis. Also surviving are her grandchildren, Michael Cooper, Laura Drake, Tracey Bird, Jonathan Cooper, Shawn Busse, Ryan Busse, Kyle Cooper, Katie Cooper, Una Ferel, Alison Cooper, Danielle Rivero, and Connor Drake. She had twelve great-grandchildren with two more on the way. Vi had many wonderful friends, which she cherished. She always shared that Bill and Ada Duncan were the "best friends that a person could have." Preceding her in death were her husbands, George Cooper, Ted Wilborn, and Harry Lewis; her son, Thomas Lee Cooper; her step-daughter, Angela Wilborn; her granddaughter, Sharon Cooper; and her brother, Frank Fendley Jr. Vi had a "bucket list" that she enjoyed experiencing in her 80's. This included riding in a hot air balloon, riding an elephant at Wildlife Safari, and taking a spin on a motorcycle. Her final wish was to parachute out of an airplane in her late 80s, but her children won that one. She was also waiting for her youngest son's camaro to be finished from the paint shop so she could ride in it. Even though she passed days before it was completed, her wish will be honored as her remains will be transferred from the church to the gravesite, in the car for her "final ride." Vi lived her life in faith, conviction, and fun. A Memorial Mass will be held Friday, August 19, 2011, at 12:10 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church with a reception to follow. Internment will be held within the grounds of St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made in Viola's memory to St. Joseph Catholic Church Community Kitchen.