Joan Sloan Johnson

August 23, 1930 – July 27, 2023

Joan Ruth Sloan Johnson, 92, of Austin, Texas, our mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend, has passed away. She was born in Brookings, South Dakota to Roy and Edna Sloan and at the age of 3 moved to Mission, Texas. She was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, Lt Col. James Robert “Jim” Johnson, and by her parents and her five siblings (Rachel Bridges, Lloyd Sloan, Margaret Clark, Stanley Sloan, Helen Sloan Young) and her granddaughter, Ariana Cavalli Delbar (Vincent Delbar). She is survived by her children, Christina Johnson Cavalli and James David Johnson (Kathy Raesz); her grandchildren Gabriella Joan Greenleaf (Jason Greenleaf), Julietta M. Cavalli (Jan Luedtke), and Alexander P. Cavalli (Brittney Flourney Cavalli); and her great-grandchildren Hudson and Rowan Greenleaf, Milo and James Luedtke, and Theodore Cavalli.

Joan graduated from McAllen High School and was then employed at Southwestern Bell Telephone Company. In 1949, she and Jim were married and she spent the next 23 years as an Air Force wife and mother. The family was stationed in Texas, Alabama, Washington, California, Hawaii, Georgia, and Delaware. She was active in the Protestant Women of the Chapel, Base Chapel Choir, PTA (as an officer), Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, and participated in Squadron Wives’ functions.

After Jim’s retirement from the Air Force, the family returned to Texas and settled in Austin where he was employed by the FAA as an Air Traffic Controller. Joan was an active volunteer for Westminster Presbyterian Church, serving as a Deacon and an Elder, as well as a Stephen’s Minister, a member of the choir, and many other activities.

Her great interest in life was her family. She began collecting family history in the 1960s. In 1984 her book, “The Bentsen Family: From Denmark to Texas”, was published, telling the story of her maternal ancestor’s emigration and pioneer days in America. She also contributed to the gathering of family history on her paternal ancestral family and their roots in Scotland for a book she wrote on the Caldwell-Sloan family printed in 1996.

She often said that her family became much dearer to her as a result of leaving home as an Air Force wife and living away from family for many years. When the family returned to Texas to live, Joan spent many happy hours visiting with her mother, her siblings, and other relatives, collecting family information so that the stories could be passed on to her children and grandchildren and the rest of the family. It was her joy to make a trip to Denmark, where she was able to meet and visit with many Danish cousins, and later to Scotland. She planned and hosted many family reunions over the years, gathering the far-flung relatives together and even including newly discovered cousins from Denmark into the fold.

Joan made close friends throughout her life and kept in touch with cards and letters over the years. Often she and Jim were able to combine visiting friends and family with another of their shared joys – travel.

They enjoyed exploring the world, both domestically and internationally, and were thankful for the many opportunities to do so.

Services will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 3208 Exposition Blvd., Austin, Texas, 78703, on August 11 at 1:30pm following a commitment service at Austin Memorial Gardens at 12:30pm. A reception will follow the services in the fellowship hall of Westminster Presbyterian Church.

The family requests that those wishing to make a memorial donation in Joan’s name please send it to one of the following:

Westminster Presbyterian Church

www.wpcaustin.org

Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter

www.wilcotx.gov/pets

Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center

www.wildflower.org

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.wcfishnorth.com for the Johnson family.