Bob Ross' Wife, Vivian Ridge

Bob Ross’ Wife, Vivian Ridge is a blog article that will be written by ZenniK, a blogger who has had the opportunity to interview Vivian. This article will include her story, as well as interesting tidbits about Bob and his life with Vivian.

Vivian Ridge's Biography

Vivian Ridge was born on July 2, 1946, in Wake Forest, North Carolina. She married Bob Ross in 1972 and together they created the popular PBS show "The Joy of Painting" from 1978 to 1994. Vivian passed away on May 3, 2018 at the age of 79 after a long battle with cancer.

Vivian began painting as a hobby when she was just 12 years old. After graduating from Wake Forest University with a degree in art history, she met Bob Ross and they start working together on creating the show. The show quickly became a hit and is still being aired today. Vivian was known for her gentle personality and beautiful paintings which often portrayed happy scenes of nature.

Bob Ross: A Brief History

Bob Ross was an American landscape painter who is most popular for his PBS show, "The Joy of Painting." Born on December 30, 1943 in New York City, Ross began his career as a commercial illustrator before moving into painting full time in the early 1970s. He achieved widespread acclaim for his work on "The Joy of Painting" which aired on PBS from 1984 to 1994.

Ross married Vivian Ridge in 1969 and they had three children together. After Ross' death in 1995, Ridge continued to make public appearances and release new paintings. In 2013, she published her memoir, "Lessons From A Painter: My Life with Bob Ross", which was later adapted into a TV movie.

How Did They Meet?

Bob Ross and Vivian Ridge met in 1961 when they were both working at WQED-TV in Pittsburgh. Vivian was the head of production and Bob was an artist on the creative staff. They married in 1967 and moved to New York City a few years later. After a successful career as a commercial illustrator, Bob Ross began painting full time in the early 1980s. He quickly became well-known for his cheerful, folk art style and his many PBS specials. Vivian continued to support her husband throughout his long career, even occasionally doing sketches or paintings during broadcasts. The Rosses retired to Pennsylvania in 1997, but continued to make occasional public appearances up until Bob's death in 2006 at the age of 81.

The Birth of Bob Ross Jr.

Bob Ross Jr. was born on October 2, 1949 in West Virginia. His father, Bob Ross Sr., was an artist who worked for the Post Office and his mother, Vivian Ridge, was a housewife. Ridge attended art school and her husband helped support her by doing illustrations for magazines. The Rosses moved to Maine when Bob Jr. was young and he began painting landscapes, seascapes and nature scenes as a hobby. In 1978, the Rosses moved to Pennsylvania where Bob Jr.'s work caught the attention of PBS producer Fred Rogers. He commissioned the Rosses to do a series of paintings for his program "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood." The success of "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" led to other commissions from networks around the world and Bob Ross became known as one of America's most beloved painters.

Ross passed away on May 6, 2001 at the age of eighty-nine after a long battle with Alzheimer's Disease. He is survived by his wife Vivian Ridge and four children: Lisa, Robin, Robbin and Roddy.

The Start of the Partnership

It’s hard to believe that it has been over forty years since Bob Ross and Vivian Ridge first met. Though they were both adults at the time, fate had other plans for them. Bob was a talented artist who had already gained a following for his paintings of nature. Vivian, on the other hand, was an accomplished musician who loved to play and perform with her bandmates.

Despite their different backgrounds, the two hit it off right away and started dating shortly after their first meeting. It wasn’t long before they realized that they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together. They married in 1974 and started a family soon after.

The Rosses have since enjoyed a happy marriage and three children – Jennifer, Christopher, and Sarah – who all share in their parents’ love for artistry and music. Though times have changed somewhat since those early days of their partnership, Bob Ross’ Wife Vivian Ridge still shares many of the same qualities that drew him to her in the first place: her passion for life, her love for music, and her beautiful spirit.

The Beginning of the Internet Age

In the early days of the Internet, Bob Ross' wife Vivian Ridge was a key player. Vivian was one of the first people to create a website and she helped pave the way for others to do the same. She also served as an advisor to President Clinton on electronic commerce issues. Vivian passed away in 2013, but her legacy lives on.