Vivian Arlene Lortz , 03 Oct 1920 – 17 May 2013

LORTZ, DAVIS, SCANDRIDGE, BRADFORD, FAUTH, CARLIN

Posted By: Sandy Ficken (email)
Date: 7/19/2013 at 14:08:41

Vivian Lortz, 92

Memorial service for Vivian A. (Davis) Lortz, 92, Dallas, Texas, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 20, at Pleasant Grove Grace Brethren Church, rural North English. She died Friday, May 17, 2013, at Pearl Nordan Care Center, Juliette Fowler Homes, Dallas.

The Rev. Edwin Jordan will officiate at the service.

Memorials may be made to the Pleasant Grove Grace Brethren Church.

Vivian Arlene Lortz was born Oct. 3, 1920, in Pilot Township, Iowa County, the daughter of Earl and Mae [Scandridge] Davis.

She married E. Burdette Lortz Feb. 10, 1940, in Pilot Township and the couple had four children.

She graduated from Marengo High School in 1938, obtained her teaching certificate and taught in a one-room country school in Sumner Township until her marriage. For the next 27 years she shared the ownership and responsibilities of the Lortz farm in Pilot Township. It was during this period that she became a very active member of Pleasant Grove Grace Brethren Church. She really loved people and the Lord very dearly. She dedicated herself to His work, prayed daily for others, played the piano for church, taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. She was a missionary dynamo for the lost.

In 1967, she moved to Des Moines, working for J.C. Penny as an auditor. Beginning in 1972, she worked for Polk County Court as a court clerk and retired in 1982 to care for her parents. She moved to Sacramento, Calif., in January 1984, bringing her parents with her. In 2005, she moved in with her son and in September 2007, she moved into Grace Presbyterian Village, Dallas. Last year, she moved into the Pearl Nordan Care Center, Juliette Fowler Homes, as her last residence.

Every new place Vivian went, she became very involved with her church: Indianola Heights Evangelic Free Church, Des Moines; Capital Christian Church, Sacramento, as well as Fundamental Gospel Church, where her parents attended, and Pleasant Grove Grace Brethren Church while in Iowa.

Her world was not on stage but behind the scenes, serving others. Her blessing was serving first and then finishing what needed to be done in a loving spirit. She was the one that picked up kids, the elderly, the less capable and then loved them like her own. She was always there and most importantly always available when needed. Though her world was small to most, it was gigantic in Heavenly rewards.

Vivian was a devoted wife and mother not only to her own children but to many other children. She deeply loved the Lord and evidence of this was seen in all aspects of her life.

Lortz is survived by her children, Nancy Bradford, Petaluma, Calif.; Katy and Tom Fauth, Denver, Colo.; Jim and Debbie Lortz, Sacramento; Marti and Larry Carlin, Dallas; nine grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents and an aunt, Mae Davis.

[bracketed per submitter per Mae’s obituary]

The Williamsburg Journal Tribune, Iowa County Obituaries, 11 Jul 2013