Thelma J. Johnson

Thelma Jean Johnson passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Monday, June 12 at the age of 96. Thelma was born on November 26, 1926, and was the eldest of nine children.

She is survived by her beloved sons, Walter Bruce (Alma) Johnson and Ralph James (Jodi) Johnson; her loving grandchildren, James (Stephanie) Johnson, Naomi (Paul) Slozat, Debbie Smith, Lisa (Bill) Hostler, Tim (Elisabeth) Johnson, Jennifer (Kris) Myers and Carrie (John) Holet; step grandsons Chad (Lindy) Lampe and Todd (Kristen) Fleet; great-grandchildren, Anne (Jeremiah) Parker, Peter (Amy) Johnson, Zachary, William and Claire Johnson, Daniel and Andrew Slozat, Brianna and Sarah Smith, Nicole (Josh) Hill, Megan Johnson, Mitchell and Elissa Chandler, Jenna and Brian Myers, Carson and Connor Holet, Anna and Chris Lampe and Lucy and Andy Fleet; 9 great-great grandchildren; and siblings Lois Scott, David Wiley and Doris Wiley.

Thelma was preceded in death by her husband Lyle; grandson Brian Johnson; parents Ila and Sherman Wiley; siblings Sherman Wiley, Herman Wiley, Evelyn Davis, Irene (Don) Arehart, Harold ‘Bud’ Wiley, Russell (Ruth) Wiley, MaryEllen Wiley and Larry Scott. 

She was born in Akron, Ohio, graduating from East High School, where she lived until she married Lyle and built a life in Barberton.  She worked at Sun Rubber in Barberton and then in ‘the nursery’ at Barberton Citizens Hospital where she proudly cared for several of her grandchildren at birth. She retired after more than 30 years at the hospital. Her favorite past times included being part of the Mud Hens where she created beautiful ceramic treasures for her family. She enjoyed gardening, camping with family, and traveling to exciting places especially anywhere her family lived. Most of all, she loved to crochet and shared her talent by crocheting cherished blankets for her family.

Family came first in Thelma’s life, and she enjoyed supporting them in every way including sporting events, school activities and enjoying endless trips to the mall. She was always up for a game of croquet, Old Maid and could not resist winning every round of Chinese Checkers.

She was a devoted friend, creating and cultivating life-enriching friendships even in her final days.  Her legacy of kindness, faith and courage is massive, rippling through hundreds of people in the way that she loved, and gave and blessed every person around her. She deeply loved the Lord and was ready to humbly enter his arms.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Thelma’s honor to the Alzheimer’s Association at act.alz.org.

Calling hours are on Monday, June 19 from 5 – 7 p.m. Funeral Service is Tuesday, June 20 at 10 a.m. Interment to follow at Greenlawn Cemetery in Akron. Arrangements by Cox-McNulty Funeral Home, 222 Norton Ave, Barberton.

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