Vivian A. Bitter

Vivian Aileen (Miley) Bitter formerly of Evansville, Indiana died peacefully on Tuesday, September 15, 2009 at her home at Greenleaf Living Center in Elkhart. She was 92 years old.

She was born in Princeton, Indiana to Adna and Lawrence Miley on November 16, 1916. She grew up in Princeton in a household of two sisters, Bettye Ganz & Judith Olson(deceased) and a brother, Dr. Robert L. Miley (deceased). She enjoyed playing the flute in the high school band as a young girl. Vivian lived in Princeton until she moved to Evansville to attend Lockyear’s Business School. There she met the love of her life, Carl J. Bitter. Together the raised two children, Thomas J. Bitter (deceased) and Nancy (Bitter) Boren (Dr. Wilber C. III).

For most of her young life, Vivian was a homemaker enjoying her children and their activities, cooking, sewing, entertaining family and friends and taking care of her many plants.She loved to read and spent many nights staying up very late to finish a good book. She enjoyed the activities of the Jaycee Wives of which she was a member for 25 years. She also loved bowling and was in several leagues for many years.

When her children were in high school, she joined the ranks of a travel agent. For 32 years she worked at Haynie Travel Service in Evansville arranging and taking groups all over the world. She went to Europe over 25 times and around the world twice. Those were the days when ladies traveled in high heeled shoes and walked on the cobblestone streetsof many countries. She received her Certified Travel Counselor certificate in 1986 of which she and the family were so proud of. After she retired she took care of Carl until his death in 1991. She then enjoyed being a volunteer at the Evansville Museum for almost ten years.

Vivian moved to Elkhart seven years ago to be closer to her daughter. Together they enjoyed shopping and lunches for several years. She is survived by her daughter, Nancy and her husband, Dr. Wilber C. Boren, III of Bristol, Indiana; four grandchildren, Nicole (Boren) Bickett (Jason) of Carmel, Indiana, Natalie (Boren) Miller (Treg) of Kalispell, Montana, Wilber C. Boren IV (Kristi Burris) of Warsaw, Indiana and Thomas J. Bitter of Newburg, Indiana; eight great-grandchildren, Taylor and Lindsay Bickett, Savannah and Sadie Miller, Jordyn Lindeman, Wilber C. Boren V, Nicholas E. Boren and Grant D. Boren. Vivian was preceded in death by Carl J. Bitter in 1991 and her son, Thomas Joseph Bitter in 1968.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Center for Hospice and Palliative Care or the United Cancer Services of Elkhart County.

Friends may call from 4-6 P.M. Thursday at Stemm Lawson Peterson Funeral Home, 1531 Cobblestone Boulevard, Elkhart. Funeral services will be held at Christ the King Church in Evansville, Indiana. Visitation there will be from 9-10 A.M. Saturday followed by the funeral services and celebration of her life at 10:00 A.M. Burial will follow at Oakhill Cemetery.

The family wishes to send a special thank you to the caring staff at Greenleaf Living Center especially Elsie Davis, her special caregiver.