Barbara Johnson Bryan

1917 - 2014

Barbara Johnson Bryan

Barbara Johnson Bryan of Shoreline died peacefully on Sunday, June 22, 2014. She was born November 16, 1917 in Alexandria, MN to Carl Walter and Alma Campbell Johnson. She grew up in Red Wing, MN where her engineer father owned a bridge building company and later was a regional director for the WPA. Barbara and her older sister Martha had an idyllic childhood surrounded by loving parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles.

After graduating from high school with top honors, Barbara earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Smith College in Northampton, MA in 1937. She then moved to New York City and earned a Master's Degree from Columbia University in 1939.

During WW2, Barbara's father was recruited by Boeing and moved to Seattle in 1942. Barbara and Martha followed, doing their part for the war effort. Both young women worked briefly for Boeing, but Barbara wanted more adventure. She joined the American Red Cross towards the end of the war and served for two years in Japan. She then worked for the U.S. Consulate in Manila, the Philippines. During these years, she met and fell in love with Eric Bryan, an RAF pilot from Scotland.

Eric and Barbara were married June 10, 1950 in Seattle. They lived briefly in Vancouver, BC, then on Seattle's Queen Anne Hill until they built their home in Shoreline. They had one son, Peter, in 1956. Barbara worked as a travel agent for a few years then returned to college and earned her teaching certificate. She taught elementary school in the Edmonds School District until retiring in 1977.

The Seattle area provided Barbara with many opportunities to share her musical talent with others. She first became a member of the University Congregational/UCC in 1942. After the WW2 years, Barbara rejoined her faith community and sang in the church choir until she retired from active participation at age 93. She also sang in the Seattle Symphony Chorale for many years.

Barbara supported the local arts community. She was a season ticket holder for the Seattle Symphony, Opera, Repertory Theatre, 5th Avenue Theatre, as well as a member of the Seattle Art Museum and other local museums. In addition, she was a member of the PEO service organization and the Innis Arden Friends of the Arts.

An avid traveler, Barbara spent many happy retirement years traveling around the world. She was a lifelong learner, taking up guitar, painting, German language, and photography after retirement. Always in the know, Barbara loved an evening of discussing politics and other current issues.

The last seven years of her life were spent in the Crista Ministries senior living complex in Shoreline. From an independent living apartment to her final nursing care room, Barbara was lovingly attended to by her Crista caregivers.

Barbara is survived by her nephew David Helland and family of Shoreline, niece Louise Evans and family of New Westminster, BC, niece Marsha Pettijohn and family of Spokane, numerous second cousins including Jeff Keith, Alan Keith, Janice Shea, Steven Fisher, Paul Fisher, Anita Huysman, Bruce Hoffman, Ron Hoffman, Kenneth Hoffman and their families. Barbara was preceded in death by her husband Eric in 1983, her son Peter in 1999, and her sister Martha Helland in 2004.

A memorial service is planned for Tuesday, July 1st at 1:00PM,

University Congregational/United

Church of Christ, 4515 16th Ave NE, Seattle. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be given to University Congregational/UCC in memory of Barbara.