Our mom, Inez Violet Spath, better known as “Vicki”, was born on a family farm in Menno, South Dakota on October 16th
1933. Mom was the third of nine children to Albert and Hulda Edelman; Mildred, Eleanor, Inez, Gayle, Lavern, Darlene,
Eileen, Harold and Kenny. German was their first language spoken at home. They attended a one-room schoolhouse where the children learned English. Life on the farm included milking the cows, tending to the crops, cows, pigs, chickens, horses, driving a tractor and helping to run the family store called Morning Star Store which included a gas pump and ice house.
Mom told us stories of when a caravan of Gypsies traveled through the area; whoever was tending the store would call to have back-up. It was difficult to watch all the merchandise alone.
At the age of 18, mom and Eleanor left the farm and headed to southern California. They ended up in Hawthorne. Mom first worked in a suitcase factory and later worked as a “girl-Friday” at Northrop Aircraft, where she met our dad, Donald F. Spath, an aerospace engineer. Mom never liked her name, Inez. She let her co-works know, and they suggested that she use her middle name, which she also disliked. She shared her middle initial, her co-workers started guessing. When she heard “Vicki”, she said, “That’s it!” From that day forward she was known as “Vicki”.
Mom was adventurous from the start, riding motorcycles and taking flying lessons at the Hawthorne airport. She has fond memories flying an Archana aircraft.
Mom and Dad married on February 14, 1954. Two daughters came quickly: Terri Ann and Debra Lynn. When Dad was hired at Autonetics, we moved to the city of Orange. This was their happy home for many years. We could watch the, Disneyland fireworks on summer evenings at 9pm. Mom and Dad enjoyed raising their daughters, golfing together at Western Hills Country Club, and swimming in their backyard pool.
Mom and Dad owned and operated a laundry-mat together in the city of Irvine and dabbled in real estate on the side. Hard work was second nature. One unusual venture was a move-on house project. Together they coordinated and lived-in a home which was cut in three sections, transported and reassembled on an acre in Vista, CA. Mom and Dad separated but were cordial. Mom completed her Class B commercial license and drove a truck cross-country with her friend Jim, while continuing to dabble in real estate. Mom was industrious; she had a newspaper route and was proud of being a crossing-guard on what she called the busiest intersection in Riverside for many years.
Our Mom found great joy in her four granddaughters; Christi & Cassidi and Megan & Kate. She was their Noni, and she loved each of them so very much. She cherished catching up and enjoyed exploring thoughts and ideas with her granddaughters. Mom loved the sound of their voices and would tell them so. She was also proud to be a great-grandmother to Christi’s son, Ryder, and Casi’s sons, Cameron and Tommy.
Later in life, she found Braemar Apartments and decided this would be the perfect place to make her forever-home. Many of you may remember if you walked by her apartment. She would pop out and say, “Hi, you want to come in”. She enjoyed taking frequent walks, reading and visiting with family and friends. She loved people and also loved everyone’s dogs. She was especially fond and close to Marylyn. They shared much in common and enjoyed adventuring out, talking, sharing and laughing together.
We learned a lot from Mom. She was the most optimistic person I know. She loved people and was always positive and happy. She would say, “Why be upset or unhappy? It simply does no good?” Another favorite saying was, “Live and let live”. She was a caring, unique and an open minded person with beauty and grace. How long she would live was on her mind. Mom said, “I cannot beat Don”, her husband who was 91 when he passed. “He would not like me to beat him.”
We have gained so much wisdom from our mom and we will always be so very grateful for our time together.
Thank you Mom!
Arrangements Entrusted To The Care of Akes Family Funeral Home, Riverside, California.
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