Vivian Hope Goedel, 90, of Ceredo, passed away November 1, 2025 at home. She was born July 2, 1935 in Wells, MN to the late Melvin and Lyla (Chaffee) Babcock. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Marvin Goedel, her sister, Donna Patton, and several special friends. Together, Vivian and Marvin shared 27 years of marriage until Marvin’s death in 1982. She leaves behind two sons, Thomas Wayne Goedel of Minneapolis, MN and Michael Scott (Portland) Goedel of Kenova, WV, three granddaughters, Ashley (Zach) Crow of Huntington, WV, Shayne (Evan) Sullivan of Kenova, WV and Dakota (Jerod) Guilkey of Fort Thomas, KY, and six great-grandchildren whom she adored. She had one brother, Bob (Carolyn) Babcock of Saint Paul, MN and several nieces and nephews. Her life was blessed with many great friends.
Vivian retired from Kmart in Eau Claire, WI in 1997 and moved to Ceredo, WV to be with her granddaughters. She was a member of the First Congregational Church of Ceredo. She joined the Auxillary at Cabell Huntington Hospital where she spent 23 years volunteering in the gift shop. She loved to travel. Whether it be across the country or internationally, she had many good times on these excursions. She was fortunate to visit places like Germany, China and Australia, among others. Vivian was known for her baking and never let you leave her house without cookies or muffins. “Grandma cookies” were the best. She always kept up with “the hollywoods” and knew all the gossip.
Others were always saying what a sweet lady Vivian was and she truly was the sweetest. She was as stubborn as they come and often times more opinionated than she should have been. Her heart was always in the right place and she cared deeply for those she loved. She will be dearly missed.
Services will be held at a later date in Wadena, MN where her final resting place will be. The family would like to thank the staff at St. Mary’s Medical Center and Hospice of Huntington for their care in Vivian’s final days.