Viola C. Simmermeyer's Obituary
Viola C. Simmermeyer, age 93 of Oldenburg, died Saturday, January 31, 2015, at The Waters. Born May 20, 1921 in Batesville, she is the daughter of Mary (Nee: Brockman) and Albert Moorman. She married Louis Simmermeyer August 13, 1949 at Holy Family Church in Oldenburg. She worked in the office of the Batesville Telephone Company for many years, before retiring to become a homemaker when her daughter, Mary Beth, was born.
Vi had many hobbies and interests, with gardening among her favorites. A natural green thumb she was equally adept at growing flowers and vegetables. Up until recent years, she and Louie would put out a huge garden every year “that would feed an army” and canned what they couldn’t eat or give away. Her homemade ketchup and relishes were family favorites, but “her pan fried chicken was the best you could get in Southeastern Indiana” according to her family, along with her Christmas cookies and lemon meringue pies. Speaking of sweets, she apparently had a serious sweet tooth and an extreme weakness for ice cream.
Vi loved to dance, had numerous feeders around the porch to draw her beloved hummingbirds, enjoyed playing cards, especially 500, sewed and did embroidery. She liked college sports and was an avid Reds fan. Extremely knowledgeable about baseball, she was also well versed in Reds history, with Morgan, Bench, Perez and Rose among her favorite players. She rarely missed a game either on the radio or television and for her 85th birthday her family treated her to the all inclusive Diamond seats behind home plate.
When Vi and Louie married, they honeymooned in Gatlinburg, Tennessee and would return each year on their anniversary for the next 63 years. The 1949 cottage they stayed in is still there, but to their amusement, is now part of a miniature golf course. She and Louie walked often and friends delighted in seeing them holding hands.
She is survived by her husband Louie; daughter Mary Beth Welsh; brother Jim Moorman, both of Batesville; granddaughter Katie Rauch of St. Leon, Indiana and grandson Andrew Welsh of Ft. Wayne, Indiana. In addition to her parents, she is also preceded in death by sisters Edna Moorman, Mildred Bessler and brother Urban Moorman.
Visitation is Thursday, February 5th, from 5-7 p.m., with a rosary service at 5 p.m. at the funeral home. Funeral services are 11 a.m. Friday, February 6th, at Holy Family Church with visitation one hour prior at the church. Rev. David Kobak O.F.M. will officiate and burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family requests memorials to the Oldenburg Academy Scholarship Fund or Holy Family Church.
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