Wilma Winberg Johnson, a long-term resident of Bedford, passed away peacefully at Carleton-Willard Village on Aug. 31 – five weeks shy of her 100th birthday.
Born in Hudson, New York, the family moved to Waltham in 1926 where she spent her growing-up years. After graduating from Waltham High School in 1942, she attended the University of Massachusetts, receiving a bachelor’s degree in psychology.
While at UMass, she joined Kappa Kappa Gamma, which started her more than 80-year involvement with the fraternity in a variety of volunteer positions, both locally and nationally. Upon graduation, she traveled to Iowa State University in Ames, IA to colonize the new KKG chapter there. While there, she received a master’s degree in psychology.
While at ISU, she met Aldie Johnson, Jr., an Iowa native who was working on a degree in Aeronautical Engineering. They were married in Waltham on Sept. 11, 1947. Aldie’s career took them to Newport News, Virginia where their three children were born.
In 1957, they moved to Bedford. Over the years, Wilma was involved in many community activities, including AAUW, LWV, the Page School PTA, POMS, the Bedford Historical Society, the Minuteman Model A Ford Club and she served on the Bedford School Committee and the Emerson Hospital Auxiliary board. She also was a Bedford 4-H leader and Middlesex County 4-H volunteer for many years. An accomplished pianist, one of her passions was playing four-hand (two piano) concerts well into her 80s.
Wilma will be missed by her family and the many people she touched during her long and full life. She is survived by her daughter Jo Lynne J. Johnson (David) of Poughkeepsie, NY; son Aldie E. Johnson III (Kathy) of Pasadena, CA; and daughter Merri Lee Johnson of North Chelmsford as well as four grandchildren, Amanda Johnson of Brooklyn, NY; Kara (Steve Shugg) Johnson of S. Pasadena, CA; Connor (Toshi) Johnson, of Bozeman, MT; and Tanner Johnson of Bozeman, MT plus her new great grandson, Owen Johnson of Bozeman, MT. She was predeceased in 2012 by her husband of 65 years, Aldie E. Johnson, Jr. and her siblings, Betty J. Worrell and Capt. William Winberg, III.
Visiting hours will be from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Bedford Funeral Home, 167 Great Rd., Bedford on Friday, Oct. 6 (which would have been Wilma’s 100th birthday). Burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation, either to the Wilma Winberg Johnson Scholarship or to the Rose McGill Financial Assistance Fund, 6640 Riverside Dr., Suite 200, Dublin, OH 43017 or to the Lakes Environmental Association (LEA), 230 Main St, Bridgton, ME 04009.
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