Dorothy McWhorter 'Dot' Johnson, 95, WVA/TN, obit; w/o Charles Frohman Johnson
Dorothy McWhorter 'Dot' Johnson, 95, of Jefferson City, TN,
died October 12, 2010.
The youngest of four children of Joseph Clinton McWhorter
and Lena Belle Wilson McWhorter, she was born in
Charleston, WVA, on December 6, 1915, and graduated from
Charleston High School in 1932. She eloped with her life’s
love, Charles Frohman Johnson, in 1936, and reveled in 43
years of marriage until his death in 1979. Looking no
further than the fourth letter of the alphabet for naming
inspiration, they raised sons, Daniel, David, and Dean,
and daughter Deborah.
She was a lifelong member of Bream Memorial Presbyterian
Church in Charleston, WVA. At Bream, she taught Sunday
School, ran the vacation bible school, and served as
deacon, elder, and in many other capacities. Her Christian
faith sustained her, and she was a supporter of her home
ministry, as well as others when she lived and traveled.
Raising her family was her first priority, yet she enjoyed
a short career in fashion retailing, office administration
and loan processing. She traveled internationally from her
mid-60's, worked part time until she was almost 80, and
drove until she was 92.
Beginning in her mid-60's, she expanded her horizons by
traveling to major American, European, and Asian capitals.
Although unable to attend college due to the depression,
she and her husband raised four children, all with advanced
degrees, and she attended Lansing (Michigan) Community
College in her 60's.
She was well known for her enduring friendship, generous
spirit, perfect grammar, precise penmanship, Scottish
frugality, Christian faith, love of desserts, and keenness
for new adventure, though was less well known for her
culinary expertise.
Dorothy is survived by sons, Daniel Frohman Johnson and
wife Nancy Wells Johnson, of Charlotte, NC, David Clinton
Johnson and wife Barbara Raines Johnson, of Hickory, NC,
and Dean McWhorter Johnson and wife Maurie McInnis, of
Charlottesville, VA; and daughter, Deborah Johnson Rinehart
and husband John William Rinehart, of Talbott; grand-
children, Daniel Frohman Johnson Jr., Kyle McWhorter
Johnson, Leanne Johnson Cantrell, Aimee Johnson Davis,
Michael Lee Rinehart, Aaron Scott Rinehart, Ian Malcolm
Johnson, and Fiona McInnis Johnson; and great-grandchildren,
Kyle McWhorter Johnson, Jr., Condie McWhorter-Raines
Cantrell, Alexandra Elizabeth Rinehart, and Conner McWhorter
Rinehart.
A memorial service will he held at Bream Memorial
Presbyterian Church in Charleston, WVA, on October 23,
2010, at 11 a.m., Eastern time.
In lieu of flowers, she requested that contributions be
sent in her memory to Bream Memorial Presbyterian Church,
317 W. Washington St., Charleston, WVA 25302
Arrangements by Farrar Funeral Home in Jefferson City.
http://www.farrarfuneralhome.comhttp://www.farrarfuneralhome.com