Vivian was born on January 21, 1930, in Murrayville, Illinois. Vivian was the oldest of 12 children to Charles and Beulah Walker. Vivian went to Jacksonville High School in Illinois. It was at a dance there in Jacksonville where she met the love of her life, Floyd R. Gotschall. Vivian and Floyd dated for about a year and were married on December 5, 1948.
Vivian and Floyd moved to North Long Beach in 1956 and lived in a house on California Avenue until all the houses on their street were bought for the expansion of the Artesia (91) Freeway in 1964. The family then moved into a house a couple blocks away and has been living there since. They made that house a home filled with love for all who entered.
Once in California, Vivian filled most of her days being a housewife and mother. She did, on occasion, take in laundry for others and worked in the school cafeteria. Vivian loved being around children of all ages so being a brownie and girl scout leader was a perfect fit. She loved to cook and sew and would gladly show anyone who asked how to do either. Showing children how to do both is a huge part of her legacy.
Vivian loved to camp and travel; the couple took the family on numerous cross-country trips in a small Class C motor home. Quality family time was of the utmost importance to them. Some of these trips were to family reunions that were held every year for almost 15 years. These reunions stretched across the states. Family was everything to Vivian.
The adventurous couple volunteered at the Houghton Park Senior Center and traveled with the seniors to a variety of places like San Diego and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley. After the passing of her loving husband in April 2007, Vivian continued to volunteer at the senior center at Houghton Park where she helped distribute food to other seniors as well as pass out candy to children at holiday events.
Vivian went to be with her Lord and loved ones in the early hours of May 30, 2023, at the family home in Long Beach, California while holding the hand of her daughter, Rebecca Oldenburg. Vivian was preceded in death by her beloved husband Floyd (2007) as well as her eldest daughter Karen S. Jones (2022).
Vivian is survived by her son, Robert D. Gotschall (Karen), daughter, Traci Olson (Robert) and daughter Rebecca Oldenburg (Lance), as well as 13 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, and one great- great-grandchild and three surviving siblings.
Viewing will be Monday, July 10, 2023, at 9:30 AM followed by the service at 11:00 AM at McKenzie Mortuary Chapel, 3843 E. Anaheim Street, Long Beach, CA. 90804. Graveside will be Monday, July 10, 2023, at 1:00 PM at Forest Lawn Cypress, 4471 Lincoln Ave. Cypress, CA. 90630.
