Gloria J Johnson

JOHNSON,Gloria Jean, 81, of Dayton OH, formerly Chester IL, died at her home in Dayton on February 9, 2012. Born November 16, 1930 in Chester, she was the daughter of Walter Runge and Leona (McDonald) Runge. Gloria graduated from Chester High School and studied nursing at Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. She danced professionally with the St. Louis Muny Opera and studied Occupational Therapy at the University of Illinois, Champaign IL where she met her husband, Allen Johnson. They were married in 1957 and moved to the Boston MA area where her two children were born. In 1959 Gloria and her family moved to Dayton OH where she volunteered as an administrative assistant at Jefferson Elementary School and Longfellow Middle School. She worked with the Dayton Police Department for 10 years as a Neighbor Assistance Officer directing traffic and patrolling the neighborhood. She loved winter sports and was an avid cross-country skier, dogsledder and ice skater. She also loved competitive running, usually finishing first in her age group. Gloria learned to knit Red Cross bandages during World War II and continued to knit until her death. She was editor of the Dayton Knitting Guild’s newsletter for 25 years and taught knitting seminars.

Gloria was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Keith Runge, her sister Doris Runge Burris Moore and her son, Donald Glenn Johnson. She is survived by her husband Allen, her daughter Judy (Johnson) Erickson Holliday of Centerville OH, five grandchildren Paul Johnson, Tracy Johnson, Kelsey Erickson, Jessica Holliday, Emily Holliday; three great-grandchildren Kaysie Clifton, Kensie Clifton and William Allen Brown and a number of nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends at the TOBIAS FUNERAL HOME-FAR HILLS CHAPEL, 5471 Far Hills Ave. at Rahn Rd. Tuesday, February 14, 2012, from 5 to 8 pm; Funeral service 9:30 am Wednesday at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 50 Nutt Rd. Pastor Dona Johnson officiating. The family request donations to the American Cancer Society in place of flowers. Online condolences may be sent to www.tobiasfuneralhome.com.