Vivian Marie Himes, age 70, resident of 35640 Lake Road, Union City, PA (Canadohta Lake) died unexpectedly on Tuesday, July 14, 2009 at Meadville Medical Center, Meadville, PA. She had been a resident in the Townville and Canadohta Lake areas for many years. Born on February 11, 1939 in Meadville, PA, she was a daughter of the late William Brown and Mary Blystone Brown. Her first husband, Charles H. Himes, Sr. whom she married June 14, 1958, preceded her in death on January 10, 1985. On July 11, 1996 she married Robert William Conti and he survives.
Some years following graduation from Townville High School she began operating Himes Dry Cleaning and a restaurant both located in Union City. Together with her husband, her next business adventure was in mobil home and trailer sales and also a used and new furniture business known as Himes State Line which was located in the West Springfield, PA and Conneaut, Ohio areas. The furniture business was discontinued at the time of her husband’s death and Vivian continued on with a sewing supply store known as the “Yarn Barn” located on Route #20. She operated this store during the 1980’s. Her next business venture was owning Bruckers Discount store located just west of Townville on Route #408. Following a fire which destroyed the business and while the store site was being rebuilt, she returned to Route #20 in West Springfield to assist in the operation of a beer distributorship with her present husband known as State Line Beverage. Shortly afterwards, Vivian returned to the Townville area and reopened her discount store known as Himes Discount which was located on Route #408 and with which she was currently engaged. In addition to spending many hours at her store, Vivian enjoyed flower gardening.
Surviving Vivian is her husband – Robert Conti; a daughter – Sarah Creamer and her husband, John of Canadohta Lake; a son – Charles H. Himes, Jr. and his wife, Gloria of Townville; three sisters – Nancy Shartle of Guys Mills; Sherry Kessler of Townville; and Faye Peeples and her husband, Dave of Meadville; a brother – Terry Brown of Townville; five grandchildren – Charles Himes, III; Eric Himes; Jessica Himes; John William Creamer; and Kaylee Creamer. A son – Victor Himes preceded her in death.
Friends may call at the Van Matre Family Funeral Home in Cambridge Springs on Friday from 2-4 and 7-9. Funeral services will be held there Saturday morning at 10:00. Reverend Dave Brumagin will officiate. Interment will be in East Conneaut Cemetery, Conneaut, Ohio on Monday, July 20th at 11:00 a.m.
Sarah,
You may not remember me, we attended school together in Conneaut during our middle school years. However, in reading the notice of your mother’s death, I had to send you my condolences. It is never easy or fair when you lose a loved one in death, especially someone as close to you as your mother. Though I never got to meet her, iit sounds like your mother was a woman full of life, who still had many things she would have liked to do.The Bible calls death an “enemy” – quite a good description I think. Even though we know our loved ones are at peace, I find that I wish we had even one more day with them. Life seems all too short.
My prayers and deepest sympathies are with you.
Deborah (Chodorski) Knepp
So sorry to hear about Vivian. I went to school with her in Townville and liked her very much.
Our love and prayers are with the family.
I was very sorry to hear about the death of Vivian yesterday. I appreciated the call I received from her husband telling me. I sat at the table with Vivian and her husband at our last class reunion and enjoyed a nice visit with her. Vivian had a lot of successful adventures in her life and faced some tragedies as well but always over came them. She will be missed by all of her classmates. Vivian and I were in the same class at Townville High School, Class of 1957. My sympathy goes out to her husband, children and grandchildren.
I have e-mailed this information on to all of the classmates who I had e-mail addresses for.
Dad, Sorry to hear about your loss. It is never easy losing a loved one. Sorry we couldn’t be there to help and support you. Vivian was a strong, hard working woman that will be dearly missed. Rejoice in her memory and try not to dwell on your loss. And you try not to be a stranger and keep family close at hand. Miss and Love ya!! Judy and Guy Senkowski