First, my apologies for adding a message so late after the fact. I have lived outside the U.S. for decades and only recently found out that she had passed.  Like written by so many others, Mrs. Van Ausdal was my favourite teacher for many reasons, one of which was her effort to understand my perplexing intellect. She had a mind that was both commodious and forgiving. Unlike many teachers of that era, she was willing to hear a student out, no matter what their position in the argument was.  And finally, she was fun to be around. What a lady!

She was the best English teacher I had all the way through school. I had her for just one semester for a literature class - The Bible as Literature (imagine trying to teach that today). What I really learned from her was how to write - a short paper due every week but she provided my STEM mind with the structure I needed to actually begin to write well. Now I do expert witness work and have written technical papers and reports my whole life. She deserves a lot of the credit for that. Her memory and legacy lives on.

I was in Mrs. Van Ausdal's class in 1968-69 and I kept in touch with her over the years.  I remember visiting her in Kemp Road in the summer of 1981 and listening to her denunciation of Ronald Reagan's trickle-down economics.  About a dozen years later she was planning to visit Melbourne, Australia, and I was looking forward to taking her for a drive along the Great Ocean Road, but she had to cancel the trip when one of her sisters passed away.  The last time I saw her was during my most recent visit to Beavercreek, when she and I went together to the viewing of my 10th grade teacher, Mrs. Livia Check, at a funeral home in Cedarville.  I adopted a beautiful little pugalier in Mrs. Van Ausdal's centenary year and I named her Vivian in her honor.  In her 11th grade English class she repeatedly made the point that specific details make all the difference between a good piece of writing and a mediocre one, so I dubbed her "Mrs. Van Detail."  Rest in peace, Mrs. Van Detail.

Great-aunts by marriage don't typically make much of an impression, but then Aunt Vivian was far from typical.  We, too, lived in the Dayton area, close enough to visit fairly often growing up.  It was always such a treat.  I remember plenty of meals even aside from the annual family picnic, and there was always time for great music--Vivian playing piano, her sons with their string quartet, my mother singing, and in later years, the next generation of talented offspring.  The music was almost always classical, though there was one notable exception when Vivian made sure we saw The Beatles on Ed Sullivan.  The last time I saw her she was well into her 90's and sharp as ever.  She convinced me that there was no shame in getting confused by the book I was reading (Gravity's Rainbow), which, coming from the brilliant English teacher felt like absolution.  But the things I remember most about this remarkable woman were her principled beliefs, her laugh, and her big heart.  Like so many others, I consider myself lucky to have known her.  (Picture from a prom they chaperoned.)

I had the pleasure of serving on the Greene County Board of Education with Vivian. I was so  impressed with her enthusiasm for making life better for the present and for the future. She was a special person to me. I extend my sympathy to her family. She touched so many lives in a  positive manner. May she rest in eternal Heavenly Peace!

Jenn and I cooked a meal for Vivian on her 100th Birthday and had her Birthday dinner with her close family and friends, she gave us some of her memories, that she remembered over her years, that night. It was a wonderful experience for us both and our guests. Vivian was kind, generous, a truly lovely person, who will be sadly miss by us both. God Bless you Vivian 

Vivian was a good friend of my parents and me.  Paul and I played at their house on Kemp Road.  She was also my English teacher in high school and encouraged me to write.  I've now published 33 books.  She was always a voice of kindness and reason.


I was sad to learn of Vivian's passing. What a rich life, at 104! I graduated from BHS in 1977 - which, I hope , was not the reason she retired that year! What a wonderfully dedicated teacher she was.  I have distinct memories of her to this day. It was nice and I will say comforting to have her around Trinity Community -where I worked for many years. She was a respected and valued member of the Beavercreek community. She will be missed. My condolences to her very large and extended family. 
 

Vivian was my favorite teacher in high school because she encouraged learning.  Many years after graduation I joined Hawker, Mom and Dad decided to start going to her Sunday School class. They would look forward to Sundays  and the discussions (I even caught them studying).  She lived a joyous life of service and always inspired me to do my best.  Forty five years later she still has a major influence on my life, I try to lead a spiritual life, I try  to lead a joyful life of service, and she will always be missed.

Lots of fun memories at the family picnic. Capture the flag. Riding old trikes down the driveway and turning them upside down and turning the pedals to pretend like we were churning ice cream. String quartets. Acting in the Tickling Trees. So much good food. Aunt Vivian and Uncle Jerry would go to all my mom’s concerts and we would go out for ice cream afterwards. Polly the parrot - Well bye. Love and prayers to all the family.

Vivian is the matriarch of a remarkable family that includes, in addition to her own children and their children/grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews and cousins and their offspring.  She presided over the annual family picnic at 2476 Kemp Rd for well over 50 years on the first Sunday in August.  She put a note in her Christmas cards and then sent a reminder postcard.  And we came with our covered dishes from all over.  Forty to fifty strong, we gathered in a circle  in the yard under the trees she and Gerald planted, joined hands and sang the Doxology with a proper Amen. We ate well, talked round the tables, met the new special friends and spouses as well as the new babies. My favorite memories of the afternoons were songs sung by Alice and string performances by our family musicians. Vivian knew and remembered EVERYTHING.  And you knew that she loved you and was rooting for you. After she could no longer host the picnic, Paul and Carol, Ray and Bev, Glenn and Cindy, and Karl  have assembled us. Thank you for keeping us together, Kemp Rd Cousins. We share your loss and extend heartfelt sympathy.  The photo was taken at the August picnic in 2014.  Isn't she beautiful?  Go in peace, dear and faithful servant.  We will remember. 

Vivian was one of the first parishioners who greeted my family when we joined Hawker United Church of Christ.  She went out of her way to make sure HUCC was a warm and inviting place to worship and her relentless and dedication to teaching was a passion from a very warm heart. She will be missed greatly!

Vivian was an angel on earth.  I loved talking to her.  She remembered things about when I was in youth fellowship at Hawker Church.  We also talked about teaching as I became an English teacher at Beavercreek Schools.  She and I both loved to talk about our families and some of the memories of Beavercreek that we shared.  She was my Sunday school teacher, and her son, Ray, and I were friends back in our high school and youth fellowship days.  Vivian was such an asset to Beavercreek as she gave of herself to better our community in so many ways.  I would love to be at her service to honor her, but I am in Florida.  Condolences to her family and remember that so many of us loved her and will miss her.  

Mrs. Van Ausdal was my favorite teacher and the one who taught me the most.  She was a sweet lady and made life better for many people.  Please accept my condolences.  I would have loved to attend her services, but I have a prior commitment.

Mrs. VanAusdal was a true treasure. She was my 11th grade honors English teacher. She  was the sweetest person and she always made us want to be the best student we could be. I took my grandchildren to visit her at Trinity and I will never forget the memory. Thank you Mrs. Van Ausdal for all the inspiration you gave us and all the lives you touched. Donna Scroggy Banks

She was one of my favorite teachers at Beavercreek. She played the piano at Trinity when my mom was there and my mom enjoyed her.

Vivian was an awesome inspiration for all of us growing up within the Hawker and Beavercreek High School community!!! Quite a few of us had her as both a Sunday school teacher as well as an English teacher...

She has left all of us with very fond memories!!!

We will miss her,
Bob Brocklehurst Jr


Mrs. Van Ausdal was my favorite teacher.  She was an inspiration and will be missed.
My thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends.

I’ll always remember Vivian as a kind and sweet person.  She’d always ask if I could make a desert, for the after church coffee. She was also my daughters, Robin Barr, teacher. We moved from Beavercreek 34 years ago. I’ll always remember her! Our condolences to her family.          Sandy and Robin

Vivian was my inspiration when I moved to Beavercreek. Her enthusiasm for life, her abounding energy, her devotion to church and family were inspiring.  She taught me so much with her independence and how to live through the death of a loved one.  Although we hadn't seen each other in many years, she will always be a beacon in my life. Her spirit is with me always.

Mrs Van Ausdal was a wonderful teacher and long after she retired I liked to stop at her house just to say "Hi" if she was out in the yard.  She let my dad and sons set up bluebird boxes one year, and over the next few years there were several successful nests.
 For fun...I surprised her  with  2 Trick or Treating sons one year. She was tickled, though unprepared....living  on the outskirts, but she gave them each an apple!  She was always sweet and cheerful.
She gave a lot to the community,  beyond teaching.... 
I had planned to visit her again at Trinity, near her birthday this month, and take old copies of "The Paper Garden"  school literary magazine to reminisce and read to her.
She will be missed.  She was so Special to many...

My condolences to all her family on the loss of such a wonderful lady.




OBITUARY

Vivian Van Ausdal

April 23, 1914 – March 31, 2019

Tobias Funeral Home - Beavercreek Chapel

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