Obituary of Victoria Rose Kidd

Victoria Rose Kidd (formerly Rule, formerly Andrews) died peacefully in her sleep at home on Tuesday, September 5, 2023. She was 71 years old. At the time of her passing, she lived in Columbia, South Carolina—a city she came to see as her home.

Victoria joins those on the other side that precede her in death: her father, David Andrews, her mother, Betty Jane, her youngest brother, David, and her Uncle Bob. She is survived by her children, Benjamin Rule (Amy, Newark OH), Elizabeth Sahler (Curtis, Battle Ground WA), and Hannah Rule (Chris Swenski, Columbia SC); her sisters, Leslie Andrews (Medina OH) and Heidi Pence (Louisville KY); her oldest brother, Bob Andrews (Marianne; Medina OH); and her five grandchildren—Gavin David, Remy, Wren (Ben & Amy), Mena, Addie (Elizabeth & Curtis). She will be missed.

Victoria graduated high school in Medina, Ohio. She played clarinet in the marching band, sang in the choir, was a member of the Forgotten Few folk group, and worked with special needs children every summer at Camp Paradise.

Victoria earned a Bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Bowling Green State University. After leaving BGSU early to start a family with her children’s father, Jan Rule, Victoria fulfilled a promise to her dad to finish her degree, finally earning it more than a decade later.

After working several years as a social worker in Bowling Green, Ohio, Victoria earned a Master’s of Library Science (MLS) from Kent State University. Victoria drove back and forth from Bowling Green to Kent to take night classes, an incredible act of commitment to her family, her career aspirations, and her life’s passion.

Victoria commenced her career shift at Wood County Public Library as a children’s librarian, an area of librarianship she always dearly loved. And she was good at the work—a gifted storyteller who relished storytimes, arranging displays, overseeing summer reading program, and talking with children and teens. She went on to serve at Findlay Public Library, before moving to Georgia around the year 2000.

Victoria spent more than 20 years working for Gwinnett Public Libraries in Atlanta—in programming and outreach and as Branch Manager of the Five Forks and Snellville branches. She was involved in several community programs serving at-risk teens and was a certified Myers Briggs trainer. Throughout her career, Victoria was an advocate for children and a devoted servant to the public and to those she managed and mentored. She retired in 2019. She is fondly remembered by her colleagues.

Victoria was a kind, introspective, and capable woman, who worried about everything and everyone. She loved libraries, puppetry, the Pope and the Queen and Mr. Rogers, books, classic rock and folk music, red velvet cake, and hot black tea with lots of sugar.

Her family would like to express their sincere gratitude to all the little angels that surrounded Victoria and held her up in her final months: the staff, volunteers, doctors, and nurses at South Carolina Oncology Associates; the caring staff at Merrill Gardens, especially Sheneida, Crystal, Ebony, and Trevonda; her care aides from McLeod Home Care, especially her buddy Ali; her primary care doctor; her physical and massage therapists. We want you to know how often she marveled at the unflagging compassion and care you all showed her. It made a difference.

Victoria’s final arrangements are entrusted to the care of South Carolina Cremation Society. A celebration of Victoria’s life is being planned for a forthcoming week in Columbia, South Carolina. The family will circulate details when finalized.

For those near and far who wish to remember Victoria, we invite you to leave a message of remembrance here on the Tribute Wall. We invite you to consider planting a tree (follow the link), make a charitable donation in Victoria’s honor to the Mazza Museum at the University of Findlay, or donate to your local public library.