Viola Faye “Vi” Coder, 90, formerly of Muscatine, passed away on Sunday, February 27, 2022, in Lake Wales, Florida.
Honoring her wishes, cremation rites have been accorded with no services to be scheduled. She was laid to rest alongside her husband, Bill, in Greenwood Cemetery. The Ralph J. Wittich-Riley-Freers Funeral Home is assisting with her arrangements. Online condolences may be made at www.wittichfuneralhome.com.
Vi was born on February 25, 1932, in Hannibal, Missouri, the daughter of Ira J. Rouse and Ethel Pearl (Hayden) Rouse. On January 7, 1949, she married Duane Richardson in Muscatine, IA. They were blessed with two children, Michael and Sharon. They later divorced. Vi was employed for many years for Drs. Klein, Gatzke, and Olson. She later married the love of her life, Dr. William Coder on February 20, 1976, at Memorial Christian Church in Rock Island, IL. They had 39 wonderful years of marriage. He is deeply missed having preceded her in death on October 9, 2015.
Bill and Vi showed Hackney Ponies throughout the Midwest. Vi loved working alongside her husband on the pony farm and by being his office manager at Midtown Pet Hospital – retiring in 1995. In addition, they loved boating, traveling, being with family and friends at numerous campsites in their RV, and they especially loved dancing.
Those left to honor Vi’s memory are her daughter, Sharon Wilson and granddaughter, Piper Smith Beason both of Muscatine; great grandson, Jerid Smith of Iowa City; one sister, Doris Walters of Tampa Florida; two stepsons, Jeffrey Coder of Haltom Texas and John Coder of Highlands Ranch, Colorado; stepdaughter, Jeanne of Tumwater, Washington; five step grandchildren; and two step great grandchildren.
Vi was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers; five sisters; her son, Michael; her husband; and two stepchildren, James Coder and Julia Adkins.
