| VIVA JEAN JOHNSON
(Pages 441-449) Wilbert and Amanda's oldest daughter, Viva Jean, born on May 14, 1931, was graduated from St. George High School in 1948. After graduation she found employment in Jacksonville working as a bookkeeper with the Jenkins Jewelry Company. It was in Jacksonville where she met John A. Outterson who was to later become her husband. John A.
Outterson was born in Binghamton, New York, on July 22, 1928, to Ethlyn McLean and Floyd E. Outterson. John's siblings included an older sister, Irene, who was born on June 25, 1927. John's father and mother divorced in 1932. His mother left the country in 1938 and has not been heard of since. John's father remarried and provided John with four half brothers. John had worked at several odd jobs including working in a steel mill in Buffalo, New York. In 1944 John moved to
Florida, living and working in Fort Pierce installing solar water heaters. Shortly after arriving in Florida, John enlisted in the Marine Corps. His three years of active military duty with the Marine Corps took him to the South Pacific and later to China. Upon being discharged from active duty, John re-enlisted for service in the inactive Marine Corps Reserve. John and Viva Jean were both working in Jacksonville when he met and courted Viva Jean. Viva Jean was employed
with Jenkins Jewelry Company and adding to her education and employment skills by attending Massey Business College. John was working in the men's department of a local department store. On September 2, 1950, John and Viva Jean were married. In June of 1950, the Korean War broke out and on October 5, 1950, John was recalled to active duty in the Marine Corps. Viva Jean continued her work with Jenkins Jewelry Company. 
JOHN AND VIVA JEAN OUTTERSON
(ca. 1950)
(Photo Page 443)
In 1951 Viva Jean took a much more responsible position with a large insurance firm, H. C. Hare Company. John was released in November 1951 from active military service and returned to work in Jacksonville. In 1953, John was admitted to the University of Florida where he completed his
bachelor and master's degrees in education in 1955 and 1956, respectively. Viva Jean was able to obtain an important position with the university as the bookkeeper for the University Bookstore and Print Shop. During this time Viva Jean added to her education by taking accounting courses at the university. In 1957, John and Viva Jean moved to Houston, Texas, where John taught in the
public schools and for the University of Houston. Viva Jean found a position as the company accountant for a large accounting firm, Brockstein, Toomim & Company. Viva Jean and John were blessed with a daughter, Valerie Jean, born on March 14, 1961. For the next few years Viva Jean found her role as homemaker while John moved up the professional ladder. John's professional positions as professor and Director of Teacher Education took the
family to Oklahoma State University, University of Tampa, University of Florida and Frostburg State University in Maryland. In 1968, the year that the family was at Frostburg, Viva Jean was enrolled as a fulltime student and before the family left Frostburg, she had acquired nearly fifty hours of college credit toward her bachelor's degree. In 1969 the family moved to DeLand, Florida, where John became Director of Graduate
Studies in Education at Stetson University. Daughter Valerie attended public schools in DeLand. John's father Floyd died on September 8, 1970 and is buried in Johnson City, New York. Viva Jean enrolled in the teacher education degree program at Stetson and was graduated in 1971, with her bachelor's degree and teacher certification in elementary education and secondary social studies and mathematics. She immediately
accepted a position teaching in the Southwestern Seventh Grade Center in the Volusia County School System. Viva Jean continued her college studies and was graduated in 1973 with a master's degree in teaching with a major in social studies. Viva Jean taught geography and Florida history for 17 years at the Seventh Grade Center in DeLand. She and John at the age of 57 and 59, respectively, retired from teaching in 1988.
After John and Viva Jean retired, they traveled extensively about the United States and Canada. They also made several trips to Europe that took them to East Germany, West Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Denmark, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Belgium, England, Ireland and Scotland. Viva Jean and John also became very involved in Republican political activities, working with many political candidates and serving on the Volusia County Republican Executive
Committee. Together, Viva Jean and John were successful in changing the political structure of the county school board by advancing single-member district representation. Viva Jean and John also provided the leadership for the development of a justice center and a vocational-technical education center for the county. Viva Jean and John also developed a joint hobby of researching materials and writing genealogical books of their families. 
JOHN AND VIVA JEAN OUTTERSON
(ca. 1993)
(Photo Page 446)
Viva Jean Johnson and John Outterson's daughter Valerie was quite successful in school. She was an honor student and held membership in the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, All County Band, All County Orchestra, Key Club and Student Government. In her senior year in high school she was elected Student Government
president. She was on the high school track team as a cross-country runner and served as drum major for the band in junior and senior high schools. During the last three summers of high school she worked as an instructor in a national drum major academy. Valerie was graduated from DeLand High School in June of 1978, and immediately enrolled in the University of Florida. She was graduated from the University of Florida in 1981 with a bachelor's degree in economics.
Valerie Outterson continued her education and in 1983 was awarded a master's degree in business administration with a major in finance. Upon graduation she became an account executive for Merrill Lynch brokerage firm, a position which took her to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and later to Roanoke, Virginia. On July 22, 1984, Valerie married Paul David Harkin, born on September 5, 1958, in
Miami, Florida. Paul was the son of Edward Dillon Harkin and Rosemarie "Re" Martin of Setauket, New York, and Ponta Vedra, Florida. Paul's siblings are Patrick, James "Jim", Edward "Ted", and John. Paul was an honor graduate of Duke University, where he was graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1981 with a major in political science. After graduation, Paul sold heart pacemakers for a national company and was quite
successful. Later, the company transferred Paul to California where he did a thriving business. 
PAUL AND VALERIE HARKIN
(ca. 1989)
(Photo Page 448)
Valerie and Paul were blessed with Kyle John, born November 4, 1985; Elizabeth Ann, born March 28, 1988: Catherine Rose, born June 22, 1989; Kevin Paul, born February
3, 1992; and William Edward, born December 22. 1993. 
William, Kyle, Catherine, Kevin and Elizabeth Harkin
(ca. 1998)
(Photo Page 449)
Valerie Outterson and Paul Harkin made their family home in Folsom, California, outside Sacramento. Valerie took a position with the brokerage firm of Dean Witter but
later gave it up to devote her full time and attentions to being a homemaker. In 1988, Paul and Valerie formed their own company, Harkin Medical Corporation, merchandizing cardiac pacemakers and other medical supplies. This Chapter: |
