Vivian A. Fortner

Vivian A. Fortner passed peacefully on July 24, 2021 in Towson, Maryland with her children by her side. She was born in Chicago, Illinois to Eugene Howard and Nettie (Peterson) Howard on May 17, 1933.

Vivian was raised in Chicago alongside her protective big brother, James Howard and her dear sister, Marion Austrheim. As kids, they loved visiting extended family in Renville, Minnesota. Later, while employed at Northwestern University in Chicago, Vivian met and married the love of her life, Ronald A. Fortner. Vivian and Ron were married 62 years and had two children, born in Chicago. They transferred to Bel Air, Maryland when their children were young. They cherished their neighborhood of over 50 years. The kids went to schools within walking distance, and the family attended Bel Air United Methodist church for many years. The family traveled to Chicago in the summers to visit aunts, uncles and cousins. They also devoted several summer trips to exploring the eastern seaboard from Maine to Florida.

For several years, Vivian worked at Harford Community College, where she established friendships with staff and students. She was active in Homemakers, and hosted women's Bible studies in her home. Her girlfriends were precious to her. Many of her dearest friendships spanned well beyond six decades. She was an avid fiction reader and relished in having books by her side. Vivian was computer savvy; she played word games and appreciated receiving numerous digital photos of her grandsons.

Vivian is pre-deceased by her husband Ronald and survived by her devoted children--her son Mark and Kathy (Wooden) Fortner and daughter, Karen (Fortner) and Eric Granger as well as her grandsons, Michael Fortner and Jackie (Childs) Fortner of Baltimore and Luke Granger of Florida. She has beloved nieces and nephews throughout the country.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to: Bel Air United Methodist Church, 21 Linwood Avenue, Bel Air, MD 21014