|
Elsie Ward Johnston
1923 - 2018
- Elsie Ward Johnston
July 16, 1923 - April 14, 2018
Obituary for Elsie Ward Johnston
Elsie Johnston, 94, of Grinnell died on April 14, 2018, at the Mayflower
Community Health Care Center in Grinnell.
A private family graveside service and burial will be on Saturday, April
21st, at Hazelwood Cemetery in Grinnell with Rev. Christine Tinker,
Mayflower Community Chaplain, officiating.
A Celebration of Life service is pending in July at the Carman Center of
the Mayflower Community.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the Elsie Johnston Memorial Fund
to be designated by the Johnston family for local causes.
Elsie was born on July 16, 1923, in Klemme, Iowa, the daughter of Frank F.
and Ella A. Ridder Ward. She was raised in Klemme in the midst of the
Great Depression and her parents rented a home that had no electricity, no
central heat, and no running water. She was a 1940 graduate of Klemme High
School and a 1944 graduate of the University of Iowa with a degree in Home
Economics. For a year after her graduation, Elsie taught school.
On July 11, 1945, she was united in marriage with Dwight L. Johnston, at
the Klemme United Methodist Church. The couple lived in Concord,
California and in 1958 they built a home in Lafayette, California. While
living in California, they had three children, Laura, Bruce and Clarke.
Elsie was a very efficient homemaker and home economist. She enjoyed
gardening, housekeeping and spending quality time with her family which
became memorable. As her children grew, Elise decided to return to
teaching via substituting. During her time as a substitute teacher, she
enjoyed teaching science and home economics. In 1972, they moved to
Houston, Texas and after Dwight’s retirement in 1984, they retired to
Grinnell where they built a new home. They later moved to the Mayflower
Community in 2002.
Faith was very important to Elsie and her strong Christian faith had been
a considerable influence in her daily life. She attended and was very
active in the Presbyterian Church and later the United Church of
Christ-Congregational. Her contribution was often through music since she
was talented in that area.
Elise was a very strong independent woman. She knew the value of hard
work, goal-setting and having a loving home. She kept a strong work ethic
and never gave up. She made good use of her time! Traveling with Dwight
was usually filled with marvels and education. Their golden years together
were truly a glittering example of a life well-lived. She had lived the
American dream.
Elsie is survived by her two sons, Bruce Johnston of Albany, California
and Clarke Johnston of Willits, California. She was preceded in death by
her parents; her husband, Dwight in 2004; her daughter, Laura in 1998; and
two brothers, Chester Ward and the other in infancy.
source: © Smith Funeral Homes and Cremation Service, 1103 Broad
Street, P.O. Box 368, Grinnell, Iowa 50112; Phone 641-236-3134
|