Elizabeth C. Johnson

Johnson, Elizabeth C.
Elizabeth C. Johnson, aged 94, died peacefully in her sleep in the early morning of Sept. 18, 2013. She was born in Knoxville, TN on Dec. 29, 1918. She earned a BS (1940) and an MS (1942) in childhood development from the University of Tennessee. She worked on the 1940 census at the Bureau of Census in Washington, DC and in early childhood education at the University of Southern Mississippi before marrying Robert C. Johnson, Jr. in 1942.
Elizabeth had five children and assisted her husband as he served as the Pastor for the First Presbyterian Church in Greeneville, TN, Professor of Theology at the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh, PA and Dean of the Yale Divinity School in New Haven, CT. When her children were grown, she worked for many years at the Glen Terrace Flower Shop and Nursery in Hamden, CT.
She loved flowers and the out-of doors and spent many happy summers at Candlewood Lake in New Milford, CT. She volunteered at the public libraries in both North Haven and New Milford, CT, including delivering library books to shut-ins. In later years, she enjoyed reading and sports, particularly Connecticut women's basketball.
After a successful hip replacement last year, Liz was able to travel to Maine for Christmas with her family, back to Maine last month for a summer vacation with her two daughters, and to her son's home in Orient, NY where she celebrated the last two Mother's Days with her entire family. The family feels grateful that she was so vibrant and engaged right to the end.
Liz was predeceased by her husband, Bob, and her son, David. She is survived by four children: Robert C., III and wife, Dale, grandchildren Amy, David and Heather, and great-grandchildren Paige and Nicholas; Richard A. and wife, Laura and grandchild Elizabeth; Catherine B. and partner Jon; and Anne E. and grandchildren Ava and Jack.
Liz donated her body to the Yale Medical School. A private ceremony will be scheduled later. Donations in Liz's memory may be made to the Connecticut Food Bank, P.O. Box 8686, New Haven, CT 06531 or First Presbyterian Church, 110 N. Main St., Greeneville, TN 37743.
The family thanks all the caregivers at the Evergreen Woods Health Center for the wonderful care and companionship they provided Liz.
Condolences to the family may be sent to Cathy Johnson at P.O. Box 551, Alna, ME 04535 or cjohnson@nrcm.org