Vivian Hagood Blankenship was born July 6, 1919, in Ponder, Mo. Her parents were Martha Smith Hagood and Elbert Hagood. She and her five sisters and brothers grew up on a farm in southeast Missouri. Vivian departed this life Oct. 27, 2003, in St. John's Regional Health Center. Vivian enjoyed learning. She attended the Cuba and Union school districts in Ripley County, Mo., during her early years of school. She attended Doniphan High School, where she graduated as one of the top students in her class. As part of her high school education, Vivian received teacher training. She taught grades one through eight in the Union school. After a couple of years of teaching, Vivian moved to Springfield to attend Southwest Missouri State. On her first day of classes, she met her future husband, Hillard F. Blankenship. Vivian joined the U.S. Civil Service in 1941 and was assigned to the Southwestern Proving Ground in Hope, Ark. Military explosives for World War II were tested on the proving ground. She went to Chicago for a safety engineer degree. She returned to the Southwestern Proving Ground and served as the safety engineer and second in command. Vivian was awarded the civilian bronze star for her service during World War II. Hillard F. Blankenship returned to Missouri after serving three and one-half years with the U.S. Army 8th Air Force in the European theatre. Vivian and Hillard were married on Dec. 23, 1945, in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, in Springfield, Mo. In January 1946, Vivian and Hillard moved to Chicago to attend the Northern Illinois College of Optometry where they received their Doctor of Optometry degrees. Vivian was a member of the Tomb and Key Honorary Fraternity of N.I.C.O. They returned to Springfield and enjoyed 55 years of practice and service. Vivian did hundreds of free eye exams for the Queen City Lions Club for disadvantaged children. Vivian was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church. She enthusiastically taught Sunday School for children and adults. Vivian, Hillard, and their daughter, Sara Susan, loved family vacations. They traveled all over these wonderful United States and Canada. Vivian was preceded in death by her parents; her son, John Hagood Blankenship; two sisters, Mary Alice Morrissey and Verna Lee Anglin; and her brother, J.R. Hagood. Survivors include her husband of 57 years, Hillard Blankenship; her daughter and son-in-law, Sara Susan and Randy Gleason of Bartlesville, Okla.; her grandson, David Randolph Gleason; her granddaughter, Susan Marie Gleason; her sister, Faye Smothers; her brother, Clifford Hagood; and many nieces and nephews. Vivian was a wonderful and caring wife, mother, aunt and friend to many. We will all miss her. Visitation will be held Friday, Oct. 31, 2003, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Klingner Mortuary. Services will be held Saturday, Nov. 1, 2003, at 2 p.m. in the Klingner Mortuary. Burial will follow in the Eastlawn Cemetery.