Vicki Ann Fowler Obituary (1947 - 2021)

Barbara Jordan '65 said:

Vicki and I became fun neighbors at about 12 years of age when her parents purchased our family home on W. Spring Lake Rd. As young girls, we enjoyed many sleepovers, bike riding, rollerskating, swimming in Spring Lake, camp outs in a tent (made of a blanket stretched over a rope tied between two trees), sewing doll clothes by hand and later by machine,"bottling", trading "Ginny" doll clothes, and baking cookies, (and devouring most of them ourselves!). Many times, while in elementary school we would walk to the Ferrysburg School, leaving early in the morning, immediately after our fathers left for work. The school doors were unlocked and only the janitor was there. We loved the warmth in the building and being the first students to arrive!

As we grew older, we developed more individual interests and friendships. We still rode the same school bus until we were of driving age.

In the winter, about eleven or so years after graduation, Vicki contacted me and we met at my home. I still remember the fine quality winter white wool slacks she was wearing that day. She looked so stately and had the figure I could only dream of! We wrote back and forth for a while when she lived in CA.

A few years ago, when Vicki moved from CA and back to this area, I was fortunate to visit with her after the memorial of her nephew. Her health was somewhat compromised at that time. Some months later, my sister Merrily and I visited with Vicki and Vicki's sister, Kelly, at Kelly's home. What was expected to be a quick hello, turned out to be a three hour visit! How wonderful it was to catch up on a lifetime of experiences in almost a nutshell worth of time! Even with her medical issues, she had such a positive disposition. Vicki looked very lovely with a gorgeous complexion and beautifully styled blonde hair!

Vicki and I planned to meet for coffee, which unfortunately wasn't meant to be. Vicki had several hospital stays in Grand Haven, where, with the last visit, 1/11/2021, while preparing to to leave the hospital, she suddenly flat lined and her life slipped away.

I feel fortunate to have grown up with Vicki. The last hours I spent in Vicki's company feel like a bonus for me. I miss not seeing her and can only imagine the variety of topics and memories we would have shared and laughed at.

Barbara (Jordan) Ritter
4/1/2025