Vivian Vellenga-Walton

Vivian Crystal "Viv" Vellenga–Walton, age 77, of Baldwin, passed away Thursday, December 5, 2024, at Corewell Health Reed City Hospital. The daughter of Donald Albert Lamb and Phyllis Nadine (Gross) Long, she was born on October 23, 1947 in White Pigeon, Michigan. Viv was employed by various departments of Lake County for nearly 30 years, predominately as legal secretary for the Prosecutors office and Crime Victims advocate, before retiring in 2010. Viv also helped establish the Covenant Community United Methodist Church in Baldwin, and was an active member until her death. For over 30 years Viv was blessed to be with her best friend and love of her life, Theodore “Ted” Edwin Walton. On October 27, 2011, in Baldwin, she married Ted. Together they enjoyed over twelve years of marriage. Viv enjoyed her feline friends, Butterscotch, Muffin and Junior (who were since adopted by Mesha McLeod whose ministry involves cat rescue), along with beautiful wildlife outside their cabin home. Viv also took pleasure in frequently cooking meals and desserts for friends and special events. Viv was a “Life Member” of Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary located in Baldwin, from 1995 to 2024. She faithfully served as President of the Ladies Auxiliary 5315 Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States and received its Ladies Auxiliary Voice of Democracy Award Citation. She actively celebrated veterans’ events with her World War II Veteran Ted, including the 50th Anniversary of the Victory of World War II in Washington D.C. Viv was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Ted; her sisters Gloria Edgerton and Neela Harrington; her brothers John Gross and Earl Long, Jr. Surviving are her sister Florence (Herb) Wilkinson of Bitely, Michigan and nieces Christine Gross, Phyllis Gross, Cathy (Todd) Gray, and nephews Michael Kramer, Thomas James “T.J.” (Erin) Harrington, and others. Viv is also survived by Ted Walton’s children Diane Diener, Michele (Dan) Bingham, Matthew Walton and Ted’s sister-in-law Carolyn Walton and her children Garry (Dee) Walton and Debi (Dick) Brouwer. The memorial service will be held at 11 am Saturday, January 25, 2025 at Covenant Community United Methodist Church, 5330 S. M-37, Baldwin, Michigan, with her good friend and Pastor Cherlyn McKanders presiding and Pastor LaVelle Jennings, the pastor who married Viv and Ted. A luncheon will follow the memorial service at noon at the V.F.W. Peacock Post No. 5315, 2225 S. M-37, Baldwin, Michigan. Burial will take place privately at Freeport Cemetery, Freeport, Michigan, in the spring where she will be laid to rest next to her husband Ted Walton. To send a message of sympathy to the family, sign Viv's online guest book, or to share a favorite memory, please visit: www.MichiganCremation.com Cremation arrangements were entrusted to Christiansen's Michigan Cremation & Funeral Care, Greenville, 616-754-5638, exclusive provider of Veterans Funeral Care. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Vivian Vellenga-Walton, please visit our flower store.