Wilma Johnson's Obituary
Wilma Pauline Johnson, daughter of the late Paul and Ethel (Barber) Jackson, was born on October 23, 1938 in Wayne County. Wilma passed away on March 22, 2018 at the Legacy Lodge in Chariton, Iowa surrounded by her family. Wilma grew up in southern Iowa, attending county schools. She was united in marriage to her best friend, Phillip Johnson on July 29, 1954. To this union, two children were born: Dinah Pauline and Robert Randolph. In her younger years, Wilma ran an in-home daycare. She treated those children as her own. This allowed her to stay home with her own children. Later, she worked for the elementary schools as a teacher's aide, again allowing her to be around children. Wilma also worked as a receptionist for Dr. James Kinnard which still allowed her to make a host of friends. In 1986, Wilma began her career with Hy-Vee, Inc. at the Corydon store. She loved her job and all her customers. She was always telling her family about winning over a child by giving them a sucker. Wilma was still working at the age of 78 when she became ill. After being a "Helpful Smile" for 32 years, Wilma retired from Hy-Vee on January 1, 2018. Wilma had many hobbies: sewing (often times sewing for others) and cooking (her grandchildren loved her noodles, coconut cream pie and caramel corn to name a few). She also loved to can the vegetables that Phillip grew in the garden. She loved to watch sports; especially the Iowa Hawkeyes. She was known as the wrestling mom during her son's wrestling seasons and on a beautiful fall day, Wilma could often be found in the timber picking up walnuts and hickory nuts. Survivors include her husband, Phillip; children: Dinah (Mark) Goben of Altoona and Robert Johnson of Corydon; grandchildren: Sheila (Dan) Roberts of Bondurant, Andrew (Mary) Goben of Corydon and Dylan Johnson of Iowa City; great grandchildren: Benton and Ava Goben of Corydon and Morgan Roberts of Bondurant; sisters: Phyllis Jelsma of Clio, Charlene Salsberry of Corydon and Sherryl Selby of Allerton and sister-in-law, Gereldine (Keith) Thompson of Tabor, Iowa. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, her Hy-Vee family and a host of friends. She was preceded in death by brothers-in-law: Gerald Jelsma, Gene Salsberry, Wesley Selby, Robert Lammers and Lewis Johnson; sisters-in-law: Florence Lammers and Beverly Johnson and her in-laws: Hazel and Earl Johnson. Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 28, 2018 at Thomas Funeral Home in Corydon. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Memorials may be made to the family and online condolences may be shared at www. thomasfh.com To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Wilma Johnson please visit our Sympathy Store. Visitation MAR 28. 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM (CDT) Thomas Funeral Homes - Corydon 303 E. JeffersonCorydon, IA 50060[emailprotected] Memorial Service MAR 28. 2:00 PM (CDT) Thomas Funeral Home~Corydon 303 E. JeffersonCorydon, IA 50060[emailprotected]
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