Ada Johnson

Ada Regina Whitworth Sterken Johnson died surrounded by family on November 27, 2017, in Tyler, Texas. Ada was the second of three daughters born to Thomas C. and Clara Louise Locket Whitworth. Ada entered the world on October 26, 1940 in Houston, Texas. She grew up in the Bellaire area of Houston and danced and played the bugle for the Bellaire High School Drill team, serving as a Captain her senior year. She married Robert Edward Sterken Sr., in 1959 and with Bob had three sons, Robert Jr, Michael Joseph and Daniel Nathan. Along with her husband, she hand-built a home/farm in the country near Alvin, Texas. A life time lover of dogs, she raised Golden Retrievers and Shelties, was also an aficionado of King Charles Cavalier Spaniels and Jack Russell terries, and always had a dog at her side. She was a good cook, adept at putting together country meals. She was a strong community member and a good neighbor, actively involved in the Germania community center in Alvin, Texas. She worked as a school secretary for Alvin Independent school district where she was beloved by staff and students alike, and later for Exxon as an administrative assistant. She was widowed when Robert Sr. died in August of 1988.

Ada was a Joyful, fun person with an easy, welcoming smile, who enjoyed playing good natured pranks on others, using her humor to put others at ease. She believed in family, hard work, play and being fully engaged in life. Her early love of dancing was a hobby later in life as she joined the Frontier Squares Dance club in Webster, Texas where she danced competitively. She was a good mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She was known and admired for her strength, especially in times of adversity.

She began a second life chapter in 1992 when she married her daughter in law's father, Dr. William R. Johnson. Together they built a life on Omega Bay near Galveston, and provided many happy times for extended family, providing a sunfish sailboat, a paddle board boat and a motor boat for the enjoyment of adult children and grandchildren. She was an active member of Moody United Methodist Church in Galveston, Ada and Bill enjoyed traveling, via cruise ship and train and made many train trips to Northern CA. They enjoyed traveling to and exploring Europe. In May of 2013, Ada and Bill retired from big city life moving from Houston suburb of Dickenson, to Tyler Texas.

Ada was predeceased by her parents and by her sister Patricia Whitworth Burns. She is survived by her devoted husband of 25 years, Dr. William R. Johnson, her sons and daughters in law, Robert and Alison, Michael and Karla, Daniel and Debbie, step son and wife, William Scott and Susan Johnson, her sister and brother in law, Michelle ( Mickie ) Whitworth Newton and John Newton, brother in law Freddie Burns, grand children William Taylor Ash, Robert Edward Sterken III, William Travis Johnson, Clara Marie Johnson, Alexandra Grace Sterken, , Brandon Dale Sterken, Scott Daniel Sterken, Elizabeth Katherine Sterken, and great grand-daughter, Emma Grace Ash. Ada is also survived by many nieces and nephews and was especially close to niece Dana Burns Black, and nephew Jeffery Blake McDonald. The family offers their sincere gratitude and love to the staff of Clairmont Nursing Home and Hospice of East Texas for their attentive and compassionate care and to Alzheimer's Alliance for ther support and assistance. Arrangements are under the direction of Lloyd James Funeral Home. A service will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Thursday, November 30, 2017 at Pearland United Methodist church and interment at South Park Cemetery in Pearland, Texas at 12:30 P.M., with Reverend Dr. Allison Thompson officiating.