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Vicki Whitaker Henry
Vicki Henry (nee Whitaker) passed away peacefully in her home on Wednesday, August 7th 2024, in Montgomery, Ohio.
She is predeceased by her parents Vic and Hazel Whitaker, and her beloved husband Bill. She is survived by her sons Tucker (Lisa) of Foristell, MO, Tyler (Tanya) of Montgomery, OH, and Trevor (Kelsey) of Swampscott, MA, and sisters Judy Conklin of Topeka, KS, and Debbie Whitaker of San Antonio, TX.
She was an adoring grandmother to Kyle and Kelsey Miller, Owen, Cora, Cullen, Clara, Deacon, and Silas Henry, and loving great-grandmother to Easton Webb and Oakley Hacker.
Vicki was born and raised in Topeka, Kansas and would be forever loyal to the Sunflower State. The eldest of three girls, her maternal instincts came naturally as she frequently waited up for her father until he was safely home at night. Love and devotion to family came early and was non-negotiable.
Vicki was a proud graduate of Topeka High (go Trojans) and the University of Kansas (Rock Chalk!). Her time at the University of Kansas would prove foundational, where she made lifelong friends and met Bill, the love of her life. A member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, Vicki spent time after college visiting Kappa chapters throughout the country as a traveling field secretary, and then as a public-school physical education teacher. Vicki and Bill's path would take them through Topeka, Philadelphia, Owatonna, Minneapolis, Winnipeg, Louisville, and eventually to St. Louis, where they settled for good and built a loving home for their three boys. Her devotion to family was transcendent. She spent countless hours in cold hockey rinks for her boys, and years volunteering in their schools. She never viewed her commitment to family as a sacrifice but instead as an act of love and joy.
Vicki was preternaturally a people person and a social creature, making lifelong friends at every stop (and every grocery store) on her journey. Her smile was golden, her laugh magic. She bestowed warmth to every person she encountered, light to every room she entered. She was a diehard Jayhawk basketball fan, a lifelong student of dance (particularly partial to tap), a voracious reader, a lover of music, and a professional "pool floater." A day spent floating in her pool, book in hand, with music on the stereo was about the best life had to offer as far as Vicki was concerned. Her house was always open, her kitchen legendary - the location of endless banter, a fully stocked pantry, and bottomless glasses (or Styrofoam cups). Never a bystander in her sons' lives or those of their friends, she was instead an active participant, always with a sympathetic ear and without judgment, offering the right dose of advice, encouragement, and support.
She has missed Bill terribly since his passing in 2015, and they will finally be together again as they were meant to be. Her friends and family are ecstatic at this reunion - when Bill will smile with open arms and welcome his Vicki Caye home - and find comfort knowing her joy, her laugh, and her smile will live on indefinitely, indelibly etched in the collective memory of the family that loved her so, so much.
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Richard L. Thornburg
You will be missed by all who knew you. Rest now sweet Vicki, I was blessed to have known you. Thoughts and prayers for you and your family 🙏. Dickie.Theron L. (Buddy) Sims
So sorry to hear of Vicki's passing and sounds like both sisters are still with us. I go way back to Randoph Elementary to when I first met Vicki, and two very little sisters Judy and Debbie. The person who has always meant the most in my life was Vic Whitaker, their dad. I spent many days over several years with Vic at their home as we all grew up thru the Topeka school system. After Topeka Hight School and Washburn University I really spent little time with Bill or Vicki except to see them occasionally at THS reunions. The Whitaker Family made a huge difference in my life and pointed me in the right direction when I needed it the most! Rest in Peace Vicki and best to Judy and Debbie!
Kathryn (Kay) Swalwell (Scott)
I can hear her voice and laugh in my head the last few
Days. I can see her smile. She was such a good leader our senior year
And. A good friend in college years. Talking to her a few years ago on
On the phone she seemed the same. I as many others will miss knowing she's in our world.
Diann R. Edwards (Arbuthnot)
Rest in peace, Vicki. I have not seen you since high school but remember you so well. Such a lovely smile and great personality. It's amazing as big as our school was how quickly you could make friends and remember them for years.
Paul W. (P. J. ) Anderson
Why cannot we all just keep going on? Vicki saw me through the summer as we passed from 9th grade to sophomore year at THS. We were close in a way that so many others were close to her. I spent nearly the entire simmer either at the Topeka pool at Gage Park or playing ping pong on her side porch---along with her cadre of many other admirers. My being shy did not stop Vicki from making me feel truly a part of her life along with the friends who filled her porch and sat with her at the pool. Her unique style carried over into our 50th reunion (my first), and seeing her looking so well, happy, and still surrounded by all the rest of her customery admirers even after the many years had passed; it made my trip back totally worthwhile. Although I hate to learn of the passing of each and every one of our classmates, some losses mean more, hit harder, diminish me somewhat, and emphasize to me how the final years are creeping up on all of us. I will remember Vicki for her joy and vivacious spirit---hating to hear of her passing, and cherishing the person she always was to me.
Karen Steinmeyer (Lichtenstern)
The obit/memorial is a beautiful tribute to Vicki. To have given so much of herself and her love and received so much love in return is a testament to what an extraordinary caring lady she was. I don't remember ever seeing a frown on her beautiful face. Be happy Vicki.
Diane (Lea) Hirschberg (Waanders)
I can't agree more with PJ's comments - some losses hit us harder than others, and the loss of Vicki is one of them! Most of the guys had a crush on her, and most of us girls idolized her. I know I did. She had it all - the popularity, the personality, and the confidence! Thanks to Kay Scott for remembering her wonderful laugh, too. Vicki was the best of Topeka High, for me, and truly a loss for our class, no matter how close we were to her. Dance with angels, Vicki!! Lea/Diane
John E. (Ted) Pilcher, Jr
RIP Vicki you will be missed by may of us. We met in Randolph grade school and were together through the entire Topeka Public School system. As many others have said, Vicki was a very special Person.
Ginger Elliott (Withers)
I'm so sad to see the passing of Vicki. I considered her a lifelong friend even though we haven't seen each other since the reunion before the last. We had some good memories going back to Boswell. She was an outgoing person who never knew a stranger and always made strangers feel welcome. I'm happy for her reunion with Bill. Sending love to the family.