Victoria Gay Davis Bungay

We write this as a remembrance and celebration of our sister Victoria/Vicky/Vic. What do you say about someone you have known your whole life and they are no longer here? We remember a sister that could drive you up a wall while being your biggest advocate and supporter. She could make you feel truly loved and special. Vicky was a force to be reckoned with; a force gone too soon and will be missed immensely. We grew up in a Navy, Catholic family of four siblings. All of us were born in a span of only 5 years from the top to bottom - a family tribe. Vicky was the oldest girl in our family, so much was expected of her. I don’t think she ever let this bother her, more like she ignored it or passed on the responsibilities. To share in the joy and love of Vicky some of the thousands of “Vicky Stories” are included here. Hope it brings a smile, a laugh and remembrance of our awesome sister.

Vicky’s strong personality and supporter of friends/family was there from a young age. When she was about 4 living in navy housing, some kids had taken my brother’s shoe and would not give it back. Vicky in her normal way of championing the underdog went and found those boys. Of course she came home with the shoe. Problem solved though we are not sure what she did to those boys.

Caring for those in need came naturally. Mary Ellen, the baby, was a few weeks old and was crying all the time. Vicky being in charge at 3 years old came to the rescue. She tipped the Bassinet rolled Mary Ellen out and put her on the bed. She was found playing with her “to stop the crying”. She did all this without asking for help or dropping her. Gave my parents a heart attack.

As a family we lived in Florida, then New Jersey, stopping off in China Lake before landing in San Diego. Through her early years there were some sicknesses that required her to be moved to the Naval hospital in San Diego from China Lake. My dad was her biggest champion, and they would travel on a cargo plane from the base. We can remember her sitting in the window of the hospital to say hi to us in the car. Crying that she could not come home. These early hospitalizations left an imprint on her. As did the death of our dad in 1966 at 46 years old.

Vicky had a great imagination and extraordinarily strong determination in all things she wanted to do. She also had a clear view of her reality. Wonderful traits but at times led Vicky into unknown trouble. For us, this also meant we being along for the ride - whether it was bailing her out or having some of the best times of our lives. Wonderful to sit here and remember. One time in Kansas when she had just got her license she was driving our grandpa’s big fin sedan. Some boys wanted to flirt and pulled up next to the car gunning their engine. So of course, Vicky gave them a look of “let’s go” and gunned it at the green light. It felt like the car lifted off the road and off we went. The boys turned at the next light.

While Vicky was not exactly a daredevil, she often found herself in the worst predicaments. In kindergarten, while playing chase with neighborhood children, she got caught on the neck by a loose wire hanging from a clothesline. In junior high, on her birthday (Halloween no less) she stayed out late running around. This included running from the police; though we were never sure why. She split her foot open, leading to the first of many nighttime awakenings as we tried to bandage her without waking our parents. It did not work, and off they went on another trip to the ER.

A strong drive for Vicky was having friends - her own circle. She was to find this at Pacific Beach Junior High and Mission Bay High School. She found Maggie and Paul and JoAnn and countless others that would pass through our house in the summer months. At times we would have 30 people in our living room. There was Rey Ann that lived with us for those high school years. She and Sandi were brought in on Vicky Shenanigans. Our house was the place where people would just drop in or be invited to a party she was not to be having. If not at home, Vicky spent a great amount of time at Maggie’s Mission Beach house. Again, there was always a party or gathering of some kind afoot.

High school years were incredibly happy and fun times for Vicky. She was involved in any number of groups and adventures some that would go awry. One time she decided we needed to go see a group of boys camping out in Lakeside. We all jumped in her car (the car was always full of people). Off we went with Paul saying the whole time this is a bad idea. We got to the campground stayed only a bit as we were not invited and headed home. The fog got bad and the alternator of the car went out. There were three people literally hanging out the car windows directing Vicky on how to stay on the road. We were lucky to coast into Lakeside and use a phone (no cells in those days) to call my mom. Having your mom pick you and 6 others up at 2am was Vicky Davis Bungay not fun. Vicky made sure to get in the back seat. Then there was the time she decided to go to Torrey Pines Park at night when you are not to be there. Everyone was walking down the road and here came the Rangers. Everyone scattered and hid. Ofcourse, Vicky decided to hide behind a bush but it was a straight drop down the side of a hill and she landed in a bunch of cactuses. So much for not being found. She had to get hauled out by the Rangers and taken again to the ER to remove the cactus spines. In junior high, she decided to go investigate an abandoned house, equipping herself with a crowbar and all. A neighbor called the police and arrested her with the crowbar and all. She got to spend an evening in the juvenile hall so if she was looking for adventure she definitely found it. The stories could go on and on.

She was a true organizer and always involved in rallying people to get involved. She developed a love for crafting. Her creative talents were to last a lifetime and started with sewing. What a seamstress, she even made a tailored Jacket in those years. Later she would take on various crafts and furniture restorations. Her talent for finding a deal by thrifting was amazing. When living in Kansas, she would go to all the estate sales and make great finds. All our houses are blessed with Vicky restoration creations.

Vicky had her share of boyfriends like all of us. Some were nice guys; some were not. Vicky had a few like Jim and Kenny that were special. None of them stuck till Roy. They met again after Mission High School years in 1990 and married in 1991. Roy was the love of Vicky’s life. They were together till May 8, 2018 when he passed. Like all marriages it was a roller coaster at times, but they had some great years. They never really got to enjoy the joys of traveling and leisure time in retirement they had planned. They did make some special trips to Europe and bought a motorhome to go stargazing in the desert. Did I mention Vicky was always buying and planning something – not a hoarder but “collector.” This motorhome was another of her great finds. In her last few days, Vicky spent time talking about Roy.

As Roy’s health failed, Jesse came into their lives. Vicky never had any of her own children and Jesse became like a son. He supported them through Roy’s protracted illness and eventual death. He carried on being there through all of Vicky’s good times, crazy times and family times. He made sure she was surrounded by people, animals and love.

We never thought Vicky would finish college. She was working at Moms, a bar in Pacific Beach, and was the best waitress ever. Vicky never did things halfway. She was making good money and living what her prude sisters considered a wildlife. All of a sudden, in true Vicky style, she left that life and came to work with her sister at Tetra Tech and then moved to UCSD Financial Aid Office. Vicky always knew a better way to do business. Usually not wrong but bosses were usually not happy to take such input. So, she up and sold everything and moved to Frontenac Kansas to finish her teaching degree that had been in the works for about 10 years. Of course, she finished at top of her class and was teaching there. She lived there about 5 years and had a house and was surrounded by the Didier relatives – Uncle Jim, Aunt Caroln, Carla, Bert and more. They too would end up sharing in her many adventures of house buying, collecting and thrifting.

These were happy and settling years, but the San Diego lifestyle and family came calling and she moved back here in the 1980s. She was to teach and amass quite a number of teaching specialist degrees. She had a gift for special needs students. She could hear them and meet them on a level that most could not reach. She was with San Diego Unified Schools until her retirement in 2017.

Unfortunately, for Vicky life was to be unkind in all things involving her health. But in her normal fashion, Vicky was able to stave off some heart attacks and strokes and be with us for a number of more years. Unfortunately, on July 1, 2026, the cards were not with her, and she passed peacefully to be with Roy. Until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Love Mark, Babette and Mary Ellen