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Vivian Sproul
August 20, 1932 - September 29, 2016
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<div itemprop="description">SPROUL (nee Polhill) (Gatenby) Vivian Edith <br>Peacefully at the Strathmere Lodge in Strathroy Thursday September 29, 2016 Vivian Edith Sproul born in Halifax, Nova Scotia passed away in her 85’th year. Predeceased by her first husband of 27 years, William Arthur Gatenby (1978) and by her second husband of 27 years Donald Sproul (2006). Predeceased by her parents Julia Polhill (nee: Everett) and William Henry Polhill and her sisters Gladys, Gertrude, Eileen, and brother William. Survived by her sister Evelyn and her many nieces and nephews. Vivian was survived by her son, Sydney William Gatenby and his wife, Deborah and her grandchildren Melanie, William, Amanda (Mike Vande Wetering), and Kim (Kevin Arruda). <br>Vivian was always excited when she was in the presence of her great grandchildren Zakkary and Wyatt, Casey and Jake, and Grayson. <br>Vivian moved with her family from Halifax to London and at the age of 18 married William “Bill” Gatenby in 1950. Together they built a house in the old VLA Southdale subdivision where they had their son Sydney in 1952. Mom went to work for Labatt’s in 1953 until 1955 “just to pay for the new oil furnace” and then moved on to work for the Department of National Defence (DND) Central Ordinance Depot 27 on Highbury Ave. until it closed down. She transferred over to the Ministry of Transportation at the London Airport where she retired for the first time. Vivian along with her second husband, Don, then bought and operated the Home Hardware in Lambeth Ontario. When she decided to retire for good both her and her second husband, Don, travelled and spent time at their home in Bayfield and then Goderich and their winter home in Florida. Vivian enjoyed her life with the boats and cottage and her affiliation with the Army, Navy, Air Force Club 227, where she played darts and served on the Executive, which later went on to be 393 where she was a life member. <br>I remember well the many stories of that first house on Creston and Easy Street one of which was about the horse we had in the back yard tied to a stake. Dad was away and darned if the neighbours dog didn’t take after the horse and the horse took off and there was mom running through the back yards chasing this horse all the way to Wellington Road (a two lane at the time) which wasn’t quite as busy then as it is today and she finally caught it and brought it home. Then there was the was the time when dad was racing out at Delaware and they decided to enter mom in the powder puff derby and the whole time mom thought she was winning the other cars were lapping her. There were many stories to tell of those times and I wish I could remember them all. <br>We cannot forget to mention the passion she had for her four legged friends and loved her Dachshunds going back to her first one Herman (the German) to her last one, a rescue dog, Wilson. <br>I cannot thank my wife of 41 years, Debbie, enough for being my “rock” when we made the decision to bring mom home to Strathroy from Goderich and build her a place on the property so she would be closer to family to look after her while she aged ever so graciously. I know it wasn’t easy looking after mom especially when the end approached and I did hear of the stories that when you were helping her to get ready you would say to her “aren’t you glad Syd married me Viv” and she would answer “yes”. What wouldn’t I give to be able to have mom poke me in the belly again and say over and over “what a big belly”. As for her grand children, our children, I cannot say enough about how they were always there when grandma needed them or when Debbie and I needed a break or a helping hand - THANK YOU MELANIE, AMANDA, KIM, and BILL ! As a Great Grandmother “GG” she always focused on the boys, any and all five when they were around to “entertain” her - truly Zakk & Wyatt, Casey & Jake, and Grayson made her eyes light up whenever mom was around them and they were playing or sleeping or just being great grandchildren. <br>Grandma would want everyone to know how much she appreciated the love, kindness and affection she was shown over her lifetime and right up to the end - thank you! <br>We would like to thank all the people of Strathmere Lodge who made mom’s life easier and more pleasant especially the ladies and men of the Bear Creek section, Dr. Vanderwalle for looking after her medical needs, the Army, Navy, AirForce unit 393 (227), for always being a part of her life. <br></div>