Dorothy Helen Johnston

Dorothy Helen Johnson Johnston, 79, of Lancaster, PA, passed away on February 21, 2013 at the Essa Flory Center of Hospice of Lancaster County, after a long illness at Homestead Village Retirement Community, Lancaster, PA. She was married for 54 years to her late husband, William H. Johnston, who passed away in 2008. Born January 3, 1934 in Boston, Massachusetts, she was the daughter of the late Fenimore Stratton Johnson, M.D. and Helen Estelle Barnett Johnson. She loved to share family stories of her family’s unique experiences as they traveled across the country to various Navy ports where her father was stationed over his career as a Medical Corps physician in the U.S. Navy. Dotty graduated from Haverford Township High School, Delaware County in June 1951. She went on to study at Allegheny College where she graduated with a B.A. in Sociology in 1955 and met her husband. Her first post-college job was in the Allegheny College library where the seed was planted for the future career she loved. She and her husband started a family. She was devoted to her three children and once they were in school, Dotty took an active role there. She was soon the President of the PTA and was later approached to cover for the school librarian who was on maternity leave. Soon after she was offered the library position and returned to school and received her Master’s Degree in Library Science at Syracuse University. For more than 20 years, she enthusiastically embraced her career as an elementary school librarian and made a difference in many young people’s lives, first at Lanigan Elementary School in Fulton, NY, then later, at the Martin and Hamilton Elementary Schools in Lancaster, PA. Dorothy was active in professional and women’s organizations, among them Delta Kappa Gamma, Coterie Club, and her community book club. After retiring in 1990, Dotty enjoyed traveling, crafting vacations at the John C. Campbell Folk School and education series with Quest for Learning. In 2010, she moved to Homestead Village retirement community and immersed herself in the many programs and activities there and also served as Homestead’s Community Dining Services Chairperson. Dorothy is survived by two sons, William D., husband of Yansong Ni, Germantown, MD, and Curtis C. Johnston, husband of Danielle Johnston, Wernersville, PA, and a daughter, Karen Jennings, wife of Rob Jennings, Chester Springs, PA. She is also survived by three grandchildren, Rebecca Jennings, Rob Jennings, and Lu Bai, and her beloved dog, Chloe. Friends and relatives are invited to attend Dorothy’s Life Celebration Memorial Service at Church of the Apostles, 1850 Marietta Ave., Lancaster, PA 17603, on Friday, March 1, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. A tree will be planted in Rader Park in Dorothy’s memory at a private family ceremony in the spring near the tree planted in her husband’s memory. In lieu of flowers, the planting of a tree, shrub, or flowers in Dorothy’s memory would be appreciated. Friends may also make a contribution to the Essa Flory Center of Hospice & Community Care, P.O. Box 4125, Lancaster, PA 17604-4125, or to the ALS Association of Greater Philadelphia, 321 Norristown Rd., Ambler, PA 19002.

Dorothy Helen Johnston

February 22, 2013