Obituary of Verna Lou Johnson
Verna Lou Johnson
December 11, 1935 – March 29, 2018
Verna Lou (Banks) Johnson passed away on March 29, 2018. She was 82. Verna was born in Peckville, PA to Florence (Miller) and Henry C. Banks. Verna grew up in Pennsylvania and Endicott, NY, and graduated from Beaver (now Arcadia) College in 1957. Verna was married to James R. (Jim) Johnson for 60 years. They resided in Succasunna, NJ, Rockaway Township, NJ, and at Cedar Crest Village, Pompton Plains, NJ since 2006. Verna and Jim spent many weekends and summers at Cottrell Lake, Union Dale, PA with friends and extended family.
Verna taught elementary school in Mine Hill, NJ and was a substitute teacher in Rockaway Township, NJ schools. She was a member of the First Memorial Presbyterian Church in Dover, NJ, serving as an elder and deacon, and was active in the United Presbyterian Women. Verna served as a Cub Scout leader, Girl Scout leader and Community Coordinator for Morris Area Girl Scouts. The matriarch of the family, she raised four children, and blessed family and friends with her culinary gifts. She enjoyed sewing, quilting, and scrapbooking. During summer months, Verna and family camped and traveled through nearly every state in the US, visiting many National Parks and Monuments.
Verna was predeceased by her husband Jim in 2017 and her brother Henry Banks. She is survived by sisters Nancy Mills of Warminster, PA and Lois Cameron of Newtown, PA, her children David (Beverly) of Essex Fells, NJ, Eric (Linda) of West Chester, PA, Steven (Sandy) of Midland Park, NJ, and Kristin Shute (Josh) of Allendale, NJ, and seven grandchildren, Katie Johnson, Becky Johnson, Sara (Johnson) Baginsky, Kyle Johnson, Pierson Shute, Morgan Shute, and Chesley Shute.
A memorial service will be held at the Cedar Crest Interfaith Chapel, Pompton Plains, NJ on Saturday, May 5, 2018 at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Verna can be made to either the Memorial Fund at the First Presbyterian Church, 51 West Blackwell Street, Dover, NJ 07801, or to the Scholars Fund, Cedar Crest Philanthropy Office, 1 Cedar Crest Village Drive, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444.
Arrangements are by Codey & Jones Funeral Home, Caldwell, NJ. Visit the Codey & Jones website at http://CodeyJonesFH.com for more information.