Vivian Janice Bontrager

Female23 May 1924–7 May 1999

Brief Life History of Vivian Janice

When Vivian Janice Bontrager was born on 23 May 1924, in Alameda, California, United States, her father, Claude Vernon Bontrager, was 23 and her mother, Pauline Bertin, was 20. She married Donald William Bridges on 30 August 1963, in Nevada, United States. She lived in Oakland, Alameda, California, United States for about 5 years and Santa Clara Judicial Township, Santa Clara, California, United States in 1940. She died on 7 May 1999, in San Jose, Santa Clara, California, United States, at the age of 74.

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Family Time Line

Donald William Bridges
1919–1983
Vivian Janice Bontrager
1924–1999
Marriage: 30 August 1963

Sources (5)

  • Vivien Bontrager in household of Claude Bontrager, "United States Census, 1940"
  • Vivian J Bontrager, "California Birth Index, 1905-1995"
  • Vivian J Wanlass, "Nevada Marriage Index, 1956-2005"

Spouse and Children

  • Marriage
    30 August 1963Nevada, United States

    • Parents and Siblings

    Siblings (1)

    World Events (8)

    1927

    Age 3

    Charles Lindbergh makes the first solo nonstop transatlantic flight in his plane The Spirit of St. Louis.

    1934 · Alcatraz Island Becomes Federal Penitentiary

    Age 10

    Alcatraz Island officially became Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary on August 11, 1934. The island is situated in the middle of frigid water and strong currents of the San Francisco Bay, which deemed it virtually inescapable. Alcatraz became known as the toughest prison in America and was seen as a “last resort prison.” Therefore, Alcatraz housed some of America’s most notorious prisoners such as Al Capone and Robert Franklin Stroud. Due to the exorbitant cost of running the prison, and the deterioration of the buildings due to salt spray, Alcatraz Island closed as a penitentiary on March 21, 1963. 

    1944 · The G.I Bill

    Age 20

    The G.I. Bill was a law that provided a range of benefits for returning World War II veterans that were on active duty during the war and weren't dishonorably discharged. The goal was to provide rewards for all World War II veterans. The act avoided life insurance policy payouts because of political distress caused after the end of World War I. But the Benefits that were included were: Dedicated payments of tuition and living expenses to attend high school, college or vocational/technical school, low-cost mortgages, low-interest loans to start a business, as well as one year of unemployment compensation. By the mid-1950s, around 7.8 million veterans used the G.I. Bill education benefits.

    Name Meaning

    Americanized form of German Bornträger (see Borntrager ). It is most common in IN.

    History: This is the name of a Mennonite (Amish) family, borne by descendants of (Johann) Martin Bornträger from Germany, who arrived in Philadelphia, PA, on the Sally in 1767 with his sons John, Christian, and Andrew.

    Dictionary of American Family Names © Patrick Hanks 2003, 2006.

    Possible Related Names

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