Vivian Buchan

BUCHAN, CLINE, HEATHMAN

Posted By: Harvey W. Henry (email)
Date: 3/17/2009 at 13:46:34

Vivian Buchan
Born: May 19, 1911
Died: December 16, 2008
Services:Funeral Services will be held at 11 am, Thursday, December 18, 2008 at Lensing Funeral and Cremation Service, Iowa City. Burial will be at Cedar Memorial Cemetery.
Visitation:Friends may call Wednesday from 4 to 6pm at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials, may be directed to the Iowa City Animal Center Foundation.
Vivian Buchan, 97, of Iowa City died Monday, December 16, 2008 at Lantern Park Care Center, Coralville.

Vivian was born May 19, 1911 in Eagle Grove, Iowa, the daughter of A. LeRoy and Frances Cline Eaton. Vivian was a 1928 graduate of City High School, Iowa City. In 1933 she received her BA in English and Drama from Coe College and in 1958 she received her MA in English from the University of Iowa.

Vivian was united in marriage to Warren J. Buchan on September 4, 1933 in Cedar Rapids.

Vivian was a gifted educator, author and editor. From 1956 through 1968 she taught in the Rhetoric Programs at the University of Illinois and the University of Iowa. Throughout her career Vivian published over 900 columns, poems, articles and essays in more than 160 national and international publications. Vivian wrote the definitive bibliography of; Sara Teasdale, American Poet. Her books include, Cat Sun Signs and Make Presentations With Confidence.

Vivian received numerous awards including seven international and national biographies for achievements as a writer, editor, poet and educator; International Woman of the Year (1991) by the International Biographical Centre, Cambridge, England; Intellectuals of the 21st Century (2000); Friend of Education (1991) from the Iowa City School Board; Coe College Merit Award (1983); City High Hall of Fame (1982), first woman inductee.

Vivian was involved with the National League of America Pen Women, the National Federation of Press Women, the National Writer’s Club and was an member of two honorary societies, Delta Kappa Gamma and Pi Lambda Theta. She served as the grade school editor for the annual poetry contest sponsored by the Iowa Poetry Assn. for many years. Vivian had served on the Iowa City Public Library Board and was a member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Cedar Rapids.

Vivian was an accomplished artist. In 1998 the Eaton-Buchan Art Gallery at Coe College was dedicated.

Vivian is survived by her cousins, Mark and Nancy Heathman of Cedar Rapids and their children Kristy, Nicky and Kyle. In 1988 she was preceded in death by her husband, Warren, and in 1998, her sister Mildred.