Vivian Fesler

A beloved Akron resident of irrepressible enthusiasm and ebullient Southern charm as well as an energetic and long-time road service agent for the Akron Automobile Club Vivian L. Fesler died April 4 at the age of 98. Born Vivian Louise Woodliff on January 27 1907 in Gadsden Alabama Vivian Fesler was a direct descendent of Virginia's founding family. In 1963 President Kennedy formally recognized Captain John Woodliff of England Vivian's ancestor as having officially celebrated this nation's first Thanksgiving in 1619. A memorable public speaker who earned the well-deserved nickname 'Vivacious Vivian' from colleagues friends and family alike Vivian Fesler gave countless readings from memory for the Anne T. Case Toastmistress Club. During her readings from authors as diverse as Edgar Allan Poe and James Whitcomb Riley she would create a spellbinding storybook atmosphere for everyone in attendance. Vivian's easy laugh infectious sense of humor and joyful positive outlook all contributed to her ability to put everyone she met at ease. 'I never heard her utter a mean word about anyone ' her son William Fesler remembers. 'She loved people and was always there for us anytime we needed her. She taught us an awful lot about love.' Vivian was a life-long member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and a 50-year member of Woodland Methodist Church where she taught Sunday school for many years. She and her sportsman husband Ed also traveled widely. Hawaii Canada Greece Scotland and Egypt where she gamely rode a camel numbered among her favorite adventures. She was preceded in death by her husband Edward in 1981 sisters Mary Woodliff Sommerville of Aliceville Alabama and Harriet Woodliff Gombasky of Akron brother Guy Woodliff of Gadsden Alabama and grandson-in-law Richard Bruns of Akron. She is survived by her son William Louis Fesler of Akron daughter-in-law Elizabeth Cosetti Fesler granddaughter Kim Fesler Bruns of Akron great-grandson Christopher Bruns brother-in-law George Gombasky of Akron and nephews Robert Sollenberger of Stonington Connecticut and Guy Woodliff III of Gadsden Alabama. A memorial service will be held Saturday April 9 at 11:00 a.m. at Woodland Methodist Church 444 N. Hawkins Ave Akron 44313 (330) 836-9777.