Viola Blythe
Sept. 28, 1916 - July 5, 2002
By Maryann Nagy-Mathewson
Viola Blythe - Sept. 28, 1916 - July 5, 2002
Viola Freeman was born in McComb, Oklahoma on Sept. 28, 1916, the ninth of ten children. At the age of four she was orphaned when her mother died while giving birth. When Viola was 9, Viola left the orphanage to live with her older sister, Lindy. Viola lived most of her young adulthood in Oklahoma.
In the 1940’s she moved to California. While working at the Alameda Naval Shipyard she met a friend from her youth, Stanley Blythe. They were married in 1946 and moved to Newark the same year. They lived in a small house across from what is now the Viola Blythe Center.
Soon after moving to Newark, Viola began to help those less fortunate than she. Viola felt a need to do this because of her upbringing in the orphanage. She wanted to help all children and their parents who were in need. At that time, Viola and Mrs. Louella Kellerman were the only two people in the city helping people with emergency services. Each of the ladies worked out of their garages with Stanley having built a garage just for that purpose.
In 1953 their only child, Debbie, was born. In 1955 the Blythe family moved across and down the street. Within a few years, Mrs. Kellerman died and Viola was left to carry on the work alone. For the next ten years, Viola ran this service from her garage. People came to pick up food, clothing, to take showers and even to sleep on makeshift beds in the Blythe living room. One Christmas Viola turned over the entire Christmas dinner she had prepared to a family that came by needing food.
For the next twenty years, Viola worked with the Salvation Army. For five of those years she worked as their Welfare Chairman.
In 1989 the City of Newark offered Viola a building at Ash Street Park from which to operate. At that point, the Viola Blythe Community Service Center was born. With the help from the City, churches, schools, businesses, individuals and volunteers, the Center today provides emergency services to approximately 6,000 people each year. This includes Thanksgiving and Christmas programs and a Children’s Christmas party for approximately 300 children. The kids each receive a toy, a visit with Santa, entertainment and refreshments.
Viola has received many honors over the years. The Others Award (highest award given by the Salvation Army), City of Newark Volunteer of the Year award (as a matter of fact, each year the outstanding Newark volunteer is presented with the Viola Blythe Volunteer of the Year award by the City of Newark), the J.C. Penney Golden Rule award, and the KRON TV For Those Who Care award. In 1995 Viola was presented the California Woman of the Year award by then State Senator Bill Lockyer at the State Capitol.
In addition to being a mother to Debbie (who is the current Executive Director of the Viola Blythe Center), she is a grandmother to Danny, Demetria and Desiree.
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View our online scrapbook of articles and news coverage over the last 40+ years!
These PDF files are large, so please be patient while downloading.
History of Viola Blythe
Ode to an Angel
By David Smith
Written to celebrate the life of Viola Blythe
Born on a September day
In nineteen and sixteen,
Her life was very difficult,
What did she dare to dream?Orphaned at a young age
With many sisters and brothers,
When she left the orphanage,
She vowed she would help others.She came to California,
In Newark lit her flame,
She was an angel in our midst,
Viola was her name.In the year of forty-six
Stanley took her as his wife,
They believed service to humanity
Was the calling of their life.
Their home became a refuge
And a shelter from the storm,
For those who needed food
Or clothes to keep them warm.
Folks who had no place to stay
Soon had smiles bright.
Because at Viola’s home,
They got respite for the night.
The Blythe garage was different,
For it never housed a car,
The garage housed needy people,
Who came from near and far.
Who among us would do that?
Who would take strangers in?
Viola, our “Good Samaritan” would,
God smiled again and again.If you knew Viola,
It wouldn’t take you long,
To observe this quiet woman
Was the strongest of the strong!Viola’s dream became ours—
We couldn’t let her down,
Our community embraced her cause
And it became renowned!
As Viola cheered on others,
She also heard some cheers—
When she was selected
California’s “Woman of the Year!”
She gave so much to others,
Her light lit up their way,
Viola’s love-light is shining still—
And will—for countless days!
And so, today, Viola,
As from us you depart,
Your lasting memories are embossed
Forever in our hearts.
God summoned Viola
From her labors now to rest;
When God called home our angel,
He called our very best!