Vivian Blackburn

Blackburn (Benton) Vivian Eleanor Vivian Blackburn, age 100, of Holland, and formerly of St. Joseph and Battle Creek, MI, passed away peacefully at the Inn in Freedom Village on May 28, 2016. She was preceded in death by her husband Charles Lee Blackburn. She was also preceded by her parents Olin and Cleo (McArthur) Benton and brothers Allen, Chester, Wayne, and Jay (Bud) Benton. She is survived and will be dearly missed by her son Robert and his wife Alice (Peters) of Spring Lake, and their four children: Robert (Dr. Tara Breslin) Blackburn of Ann Arbor, Christopher (Penelope) Blackburn of St. Joseph, Dr. Peter (Susan) Blackburn of Muskegon, and Sarah Yakes of Ionia. Vivian also leaves to mourn her eight great-grandchildren - Joshua, Brayden, James, Jennifer, Guy, Zoe, Katherine, and Alex - who could never get enough of GG's hugs and kisses. A life-long resident of Michigan, Vivian was born and grew up in Battle Creek where she graduated from Battle Creek High School and attended Battle Creek College. She met her future husband Lee Blackburn in Battle Creek and was married in 1936. They spent the early years of their marriage there and subsequently moved to Detroit, Jackson, Kalamazoo, and Benton Harbor/St. Joseph where she spent the greater part of her married life. For many years Vivian was a legal secretary in the St. Joseph law firm of Killian and Spelman and while health permitted she and Lee were active members of the St. Joseph River Yacht Club. Among her many interests she enjoyed and was a keen competitor in golf and bridge. Vivian was a life-long Tigers Fan - though did enjoy watching the occasional Cubs game when she lived in St. Joseph. During her travels with Lee after retirement, she found great pleasure in collecting Native American pottery and porcupine quill baskets. Following the death of her husband in 1991, Vivian moved to Freedom Village in Holland just one week after its opening. She lived happily there for 25 years and had many friends. Funeral services will be 1:00 p.m. Thursday, June 2, 2016 at Langeland-Sterenberg Funeral Home, 315 E. 16th St. Holland, with visiting one hour prior to the service. Immediately following, the funeral party will remove to Hicks Cemetery, Pennfield Twp., Battle Creek where Vivian will be buried with her husband, her parents, and her in-laws, Guy and Erna (Reichardt) Blackburn. Memorial contributions may be given to Women in Transition and the Freedom Village Scholarship Fund. www.langelandsterenberg.com.

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Vivian Blackburn

February 26, 1916 - May 28, 2016