By Janet Franklin 
Even though Vivian Ridge isn’t as well known as her ex-husband Bob Ross, her life is an important part of his story and the art tradition that lives on through their son Steve Ross. Bob Ross became a cultural hero with his soft voice, gentle way of teaching, and the hit TV show The Joy of Painting. Vivian, on the other hand, lived most of her life out of the public eye. Still, we should recognise her impact, help, and role as a partner and mother.
This woman was an artist, a teacher, and the first person to stand by Bob before he became famous. When she tells her story, we need to remember her, not just her famous husband.
Early Life and Background
There isn’t a lot of information about Vivian Ridge’s early life. Some sources say she was born on October 29, 1942, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, while others give different years and places. What is known is that she had a strong love for art as a child and started painting when she was twelve. This love stayed with her and led her to study Art History at Wake Forest University, where she learnt more about art and met Bob Ross, who would later become her husband.
How old and good-looking
Some records say Vivian Ridge was born in 1942, while others say she was born in 1946. This means that when she was said to have died, she would have been in her early seventies. However, unlike her famous husband Bob Ross, who was instantly recognisable for his permed hair and calm presence on TV, Vivian kept her life and appearance private, so there aren’t many descriptions or photos of how she looked. As a result, most people don’t know what she looked like.
Do artwork and teach
Vivian Ridge spent a lot of her life around art. She painted soft landscapes and portraits and also taught art to students in a simple and encouraging way. She had a degree in art history from Wake Forest University, which gave her a strong background in both theory and practice. She didn’t become famous like her ex-husband Bob Ross, but she did build a quiet reputation as a caring teacher and thoughtful artist. After her divorce, she chose to work in real estate, but she kept her deep connectio
Getting married and meeting Bob Ross
Many people have said that Vivian and Bob’s meeting was like a love story because they both liked art. The two of them were young, ambitious, and interested in art. In school, they shared their interests and helped each other, and their friendship quickly grew stronger. Their new life together began when they got married in 1965. The couple was married for twelve years and had one child together, Robert Stephen “Steve” Ross, who was born in 1966. For the next ten years, Vivian juggled her artistic goals with her duties as a wife and mother.
What is Bob Ross?
Bob Ross was an American painter, art teacher, and TV host who became famous for his calm voice, kind personality, and the PBS show The Joy of Painting, which ran from 1983 to 1994 and taught millions of viewers how to paint landscapes with mountains, lakes, and his famous “happy little trees.” Before he became famous, he served in the U.S. Air Force and later invented the wet-on-wet technique that helped him finish paintings quickly on TV, making art seem easy and fun for everyone. Even after he died in 1995, his legacy has continued to grow as new generations discover his timeless lessons and gentle approach to creativity.
Getting to Know Bob Ross
There wasn’t the glamorous story of TV fame that would later define Bob Ross’s life with him in those early years. Bob was still building his job at that point. He was in the U.S. Air Force and also worked on his art whenever he could. Having Vivian around during this time made things more stable. She gave him the support and motivation he needed to keep working hard at art.
She was a steady partner for Bob while he was figuring out his way. Even though not many people know about her work, it’s easy to see how having a supporting partner could make a difference in the life of an artist who is trying to balance duty, ambition, and creativity.
Problems and Getting Divorced
Bob Ross’s fame was starting to grow by the middle of the 1970s. People started to notice his unique wet-on-wet technique, which let him paint beautiful landscapes fast. Bob’s life changed in the late 1970s, which led to the popular PBS show The Joy of Painting. For Vivian, though, this time was more difficult.
Their marriage started to have a lot of problems. Some reports say that the stress of Bob’s growing business and personal problems like cheating on his wife made things worse for them. By 1977, Vivian and Bob had been married for twelve years and were no longer together. The end of a chapter in both of their lives was marked by their breakup. Bob went on to get married twice more, while Vivian stayed out of the public eye and the media.
Being a mum and family
The couple had their only child, Robert Stephen “Steve” Ross, in 1966. Steve grew up in a creative environment and got artistic skills from both of his parents. When Steve was a kid, he watched his parents paint. Over time, he learnt how to use a brush by himself. In later years, he and his father would show off the same wet-on-wet method that made Bob famous on The Joy of Painting.
Steve has talked a lot about how both of his parents shaped him, and Vivian’s view as an artist had just as much of an effect on his life as his dad’s did. There was a thread that connected all three family members through art, even though their lives went in different ways over time.
After Divorce: Life After
There was less of Vivian Ridge in public after her split. She started to live a quiet life. Some sources say she went to Florida and started working as a real estate agent while still painting on her own time. That person who liked a quieter life would have understood this change. She didn’t want to be famous, so she chose to live a quiet life away from the attention of Bob’s rising fame. There aren’t as many stories about her after the split, in part because she wanted them to be. In contrast to Bob, who was always in front of the camera, Vivian never tried to get attention, which makes her later life mostly unknown.
The End and Theories
One question that people will always have about Vivian Ridge is how she died. Dates and events are given in different stories in different ways. It has been said that she died in the 1980s, but other sources say she lived until 2018, probably after a battle with cancer. Because she lived alone, many people don’t know the truth about her, which adds to the air of mystery around her. What is certain, though, is that she left behind a son who has carried on both his father’s artistic teachings and his mother’s quiet impact.
Legacies and Power
When we think of Vivian Ridge, we should remember the part she played in Bob Ross’s early years. Bob Ross went on to become a cultural hero with millions of fans all over the world, but Vivian helped shape his early years by being there for him and being his friend. His success was built in part on the fact that she was always there for him in the 1960s and early 1970s. A lot of famous people and famous artists are helped in ways that most people don’t see. Vivian Ridge is one of those hidden heroes who played a part in the bigger story even though she wasn’t in the spotlight.
How Vivian Ridge Changed Steve Ross
The name of her son, Steve Ross, also goes on. Steve has said that he learnt from both of his parents. He is best known for carrying his father’s wet-on-wet style, but there is no doubt that his mother’s artistic eye and support also helped him along the way. Steve’s work is a tribute to both Bob and Vivian in many ways. It continues the family’s long history with painting.
How much money and wealth you have
There are no official records of Vivian Ridge’s exact wealth because she always kept her personal life very private. However, it is known that she made money as a painter and art teacher and later found success in real estate after her divorce from Bob Ross. While there are no official records of her exact wealth, most accounts suggest she lived a simple and comfortable life, focussing more on her family and personal interests than on fame or money.
In conclusion
Vivian Ridge wasn’t as well-known as her ex-husband Bob Ross, but her story is important to both his life and the art legacy that their son, Steve Ross, has continued. Many details about her early years, later life, and death are private, but it is clear that she was a talented artist, a supportive partner during Bob’s early career, and a loving mother whose influence helped shape the Ross family’s connection to painting. Remembering her is a way to honour the quieter but more important roles that often lie behind great success, showing that even lives lived out of the spotlight can leave a lasting mark.
Frequently Asked Questions About Vivian Ridge
1. What did Vivian Ridge do?
She was an American painter and art teacher who was best known as Bob Ross’s first wife. Ross was the famous TV painter from “The Joy of Painting.”
2. What year did Vivian Ridge get married to Bob Ross?
In 1965, Vivian Ridge married Bob Ross. They were married for 12 years before getting a divorce in 1977.
3. Did Bob Ross and Vivian Ridge have kids?
Yes, they did have a boy together. His name was Robert Stephen “Steve” Ross, and he was born in 1966. Like his parents, he became a painter and art teacher.
4. What did Vivian Ridge do after she split up with Bob Ross?
Vivian Ridge lived a quiet life after her divorce. She is said to have worked in real estate and kept art as a hobby.
5. How long ago did Vivian Ridge die?
There are different reports about when Vivian Ridge died. Some say it was in the late 1980s, while others say it was in 2018.
6. What did Vivian Ridge leave behind?
People remember Vivian Ridge for her part in Bob Ross’s early life and work, and through her son Steve Ross, who continues the family art tradition.