ALICE EILEEN JOHNSON

JOHNSON, ALICE EILEEN Born on April 19, 1926 Died on June 26, 2012 Alice Eileen Johnson was born in Ulysses, Nebraska, on April 19, 1926 to parents George and Alice Imig. When Eileen was five years old, her family, which included her siblings Myron, Joyce, June, Donna, Virginia, Peggy and Bob, packed up their belongings and headed west and eventually settled in San Bernardino where her dad started a donut shop and later owned a pet store. Even though times were hard as they went through the Great Depression and WWII, their home was filled with singing and all of the girls would pass their time singing Big Band Music while doing chores around their home. After high school Alice worked at a movie theatre, and when she was 20, married Neil Johnson. They had three children, Joyce, Eric and Jill. Most of those years were spent in Fullerton, CA, and in Yorba Linda where Neil, an architect, designed and built the family home on the golf course. Upon Neil's death in a plane crash in 1968, Eileen moved to Marina del Rey, but her adventurous spirit took her on a drive down the coast to San Diego where she found and bought a condo on the beach at Coronado Shores. She has spent the last 37 years enjoying the incredible views out her window and the wonderful little town of Coronado. When Eileen bought a Jaguar XKE, V-12 in 1975, she had no idea that its constant need of repair would lead her to the love of her life, Eli Vigderson, who owned Eli's European Car Repair. Through numerous visits to repair her car they got to know each other, fell in love and have spent the last 32 years together. Words that describe their wonderful life together include travel, adventure, flying, family, animals, laughter and a deep and abiding love for each other. Their travels have taken them on extended trips through Eastern and Western Europe, Russia, China, the Middle East, Latin America, Africa, New Zealand, and the U.S. as well as many years of week-end flying trips to Mexico, Utah, Arizona, etc. in their Piper Cherokee airplane and on more adventures (some harrowing!) than could ever be described. Alice's creativity is evident throughout her home where incredible framed needlework pieces adorn the walls. In earlier years she knit sweaters that were also works of art - each one different and more beautiful than the last. Last Christmas the Shores had a tour of six of the units in the El Camino building. Twenty-five people came and enjoyed champagne and appetizers in very tight quarters amongst Alice's fully decorated Christmas wonderland. Mom loved her family dearly and was always there for Eli and her children. Her love knew no bounds and extended to everyone that she met. Eli's children, Tal and his wife Kelly, Kate, husband Eric and baby daughter Mira, and Healy added more joy to the family. Sons-in-law Tom Rice and Ken Perdomo, grandsons Jeff Nielson and Mike Rice, and great grandsons Josh, Tyler and Drew Rice and Matthew and Micah Nielson, as well as many nieces and nephews and their children were also precious to my mom. The last five years were a special treasure to Alice as her daughter Jill moved to San Diego. She and daughters Joyce and Jill enjoyed weekly lunches in downtown Coronado and going to the Del to visit friends in several of the shops. Favorites were Jeannie in the candy shop and the sales ladies in Babcock and Story who always stopped what they were doing to greet her. Alice was like a magnet as perfect strangers were drawn to her on a regular basis and many commented on her beautiful blue eyes! Alice was a lovely, fun-loving, generous and gracious lady with a heart of gold whose focus was always on making others feel comfortable, cared about and loved. In return, those around her loved her dearly. She will be greatly missed and never forgotten. A memorial service will be held in Riverside on Saturday, July 7th. For details, please email: Janmorris2@mac.com