Viola M Gerber's Obituary
Viola M. Gerber
May 5, 1919 - September 5, 2016
Viola was born in Portland, Oregon, and raised in Willamina and the Oregon City area. She attended Oregon City High School. Vi was the middle child among seven born to Oscar and Agnes Lovelett. Her brothers were Elsie, Raymond, Elden, and Manford; her sisters were Fern and Betty. Betty, the youngest, survives her; she is the wife of Bill King.
On June 5, 1937, Viola married Donald Earl Gerber. They had four boys: Larry, who died in infancy; and Roger, Ronald and Steven. During her boys' childhoods, Vi worked as a homemaker while Don worked as the manager of Dwyer Fuel Company. When her boys became young men, attending Benson Polytechnic School, she worked in the food and transportation industries. In 1978, she and Don retired and moved to a home in Vancouver, Washington. Don passed away in 1985. Later, in her seventies and eighties, Vi drove a sports car and traveled frequently with family and friends. In 2008, she moved to a retirement facility in Portland.
She passed away in her sleep after a severe decline in her health over the last several weeks of her life. She leaves behind many friends as well as her two surviving sons, Roger and Steven, and their wives, Lana and Debra. Steve and Deb have one son, Matthew, who is married to Tracie; they have two daughters, Lorraine and Victoria Gerber. Roger and Lana have two sons (step-sons to Roger), Dennis and Marcus Elmer. Dennis is married to Julie; they have no children. Marcus is married to Kahori; they have two daughters, Rachel (now Rachel Brumfield) and Rebecca Elmer. Vi's son Ronald first married Linda, who gave him a son, Bryce, before they separated. Bryce was adopted as Bryce Gage when Linda remarried; he has two children and four stepchildren. Ronald then married Peggy, who gave him two daughters, Deanna and Alexis, before they separated. Deanna's daughter is Mina Saunders; Alexis' daughter is Kylie Revelle. Ron passed away in 1988.
Vi was a favorite of her sons' girlfriends and wives. She retained many of them as close friends long after their relationships with her sons had ended. She loved to travel and was an excellent driver, acting as the family's transportation "go-to" person for most of her life. Although she worked outside the home for many years, she was first and foremost a devoted homemaker and an excellent cook. Her daughters-in-law were challenged to live up to her culinary accomplishments.
Interment will occur at the Logan - Pleasant View Cemetery on September 13. A Celebration of Life will be held on October 3. Any donations should be made in Viola's name to the Alzheimer's Association, 1-800-272-3900 or the "Walk to End Alzheimer's" (Oregon) https://act.alz.org/site/TR/Walk2016/OR,
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