Vivian Andrews Northrip, born December 29, 1908, was 104 years old when she died on September 6, 2013. She was the oldest of six children of John and Stella Andrews of the community of Elk Creek, in Howell County 10 miles east of West Plains, Missouri. She was raised in a Christian home and was always a pious and Godly person. Very intelligent, she graduated from West Plains High School and took teacher training courses that enabled her to teach in a one-room schoolhouse for two years.
She married John Willard Northrip, a graduate of Oklahoma A&M. They lived in Tulsa during the Depression and War years with four children before moving back to West Plains in 1946. After five years there, they moved to Springfield where they made their home until the present time.
She was proud to be called a Housewife and Mother and volunteered many hours to church, community and school activities. She was devoted to her home and to her growing family and to her church, which for many years was the Temple Baptist Church. For the last 48 years it has been the Jefferson Avenue Baptist Church, and especially her Sunday School class, the Mary & Martha Class.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 43 years, Willard Northrip; her sons Bill (John) Northrip, Tom Northrip, and Patrick Northrip; her grandson Jeff Kinney; her parents and two brothers and two sisters; and many other relatives and friends.
She is survived by her daughter Judy Kinney of the home, her daughter-in-law Charlotte Northrip of Springfield; her daughter-in-law Joan Northrip of Billings; a brother Othel Paul Andrews of Rockford, IL; 16 grandchildren and their spouses; 30 great-grandchildren and their spouses; and nine great-great-grandchildren, with two more on the way; many special nieces and nephews with whom she was especially close; and many friends.
She will be dearly missed and always remembered for her optimistic outlook on life and deep sense of righteousness. Her motto was “This is the day the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!”
A special thank you to all the members of the Seasons Hospice team and for all their work and support.
Funeral services are under the direction of Greenlawn South with a viewing to be held at 9:30 am on Tuesday, September 10 at Greenlawn South and the funeral to follow at 10:30 am with burial in Hazelwood Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Jefferson Avenue Baptist Building Fund or the Seasons Hospice of Springfield.