1928
Vivian
2017
Vivian Mathews
February 6, 1928 — January 5, 2017
Vivian Kropf Mathews of Fairway, KS, 88, passed away January 5, 2017, at The Forum after a brief illness. Vivian was born on February, 6, 1928, to John and Mary Kropf in Kansas City, Kansas, weighing in at only 3 pounds, 4 ounces!
Vivian was one of five children. She grew up working with her parents and siblings in the family restaurant, “John’s Place” at 22nd and Quindaro in Kansas City, Kansas. Her first job at age 4 was to dust the soda pop bottles in their cases. 24 bottles in a case!
She attended Quindaro grade school, Northwest Junior High and Wyandotte High School. Her life changed in 1949 when she met the love of her life, Bob Mathews, at the Pla-Mor Ice Rink. Bob and Vivian were married on October 15, 1950. From this union two children were born, Scott and Gail. They were a typical “Leave it to Beaver” family, with Vivian staying home to care for the family while Bob became a successful architect. Vivian was involved in her children’s life by being a Cub Scout Den Mother, Bluebird and Campfire leader and a PTA member. She was an accomplished seamstress, a jigsaw puzzle master and a voracious reader.
She worked at United Telecom, now known as Sprint, for 27 years, and then enjoyed many happy years of retirement. Bob and Vivian traveled extensively and visited all 50 states, including a trip to Hawaii for the 50th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, of which her brother, Fritz, was a survivor.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 66 years, Robert Mathews, siblings Mary Stark, John Kropf and Fritz Kropf. She is survived by her brother James Kropf (Jan), Torrance, CA; son Scott Mathews, Lee’s Summit, MO; daughter Gail Locascio (William), Overland Park, KS; grandchildren Rosalind Locascio Price (Brian), Overland Park, KS; Paul Locascio, Newport Beach, CA; Keith Locascio (Melissa), Chicago, IL; Sarah Mathews (Frank Dorsey), Lawrence, KS; John Mathews, Gardner, KS; Grant Mathews, Gardner, KS; and one great-granddaughter Alice Dorsey, Lawrence, KS. She was excited to be privy to the secret of another great-granddaughter due June 1, 2017, to Keith and Melissa Locascio.
Services will be held at Johnson County Funeral Chapel, 11200 Metcalf Avenue, Overland Park, KS on Monday, January 9, 2017. Visitation will begin at 5:00 p.m. followed by a memorial service at 6:00 p.m. A small reception will be held immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Vivian was one of five children. She grew up working with her parents and siblings in the family restaurant, “John’s Place” at 22nd and Quindaro in Kansas City, Kansas. Her first job at age 4 was to dust the soda pop bottles in their cases. 24 bottles in a case!
She attended Quindaro grade school, Northwest Junior High and Wyandotte High School. Her life changed in 1949 when she met the love of her life, Bob Mathews, at the Pla-Mor Ice Rink. Bob and Vivian were married on October 15, 1950. From this union two children were born, Scott and Gail. They were a typical “Leave it to Beaver” family, with Vivian staying home to care for the family while Bob became a successful architect. Vivian was involved in her children’s life by being a Cub Scout Den Mother, Bluebird and Campfire leader and a PTA member. She was an accomplished seamstress, a jigsaw puzzle master and a voracious reader.
She worked at United Telecom, now known as Sprint, for 27 years, and then enjoyed many happy years of retirement. Bob and Vivian traveled extensively and visited all 50 states, including a trip to Hawaii for the 50th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, of which her brother, Fritz, was a survivor.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 66 years, Robert Mathews, siblings Mary Stark, John Kropf and Fritz Kropf. She is survived by her brother James Kropf (Jan), Torrance, CA; son Scott Mathews, Lee’s Summit, MO; daughter Gail Locascio (William), Overland Park, KS; grandchildren Rosalind Locascio Price (Brian), Overland Park, KS; Paul Locascio, Newport Beach, CA; Keith Locascio (Melissa), Chicago, IL; Sarah Mathews (Frank Dorsey), Lawrence, KS; John Mathews, Gardner, KS; Grant Mathews, Gardner, KS; and one great-granddaughter Alice Dorsey, Lawrence, KS. She was excited to be privy to the secret of another great-granddaughter due June 1, 2017, to Keith and Melissa Locascio.
Services will be held at Johnson County Funeral Chapel, 11200 Metcalf Avenue, Overland Park, KS on Monday, January 9, 2017. Visitation will begin at 5:00 p.m. followed by a memorial service at 6:00 p.m. A small reception will be held immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Vivian Mathews, please visit our flower store.