Obituary of Willa Johnson

Willa Elizabeth Johnson passed away Sunday, February 14, 2010 in Idabel. She was born December 14, 1912 in Broken Bow, the daughter of William and Pearl Riggs Benjaman. At an early age her father passed away during the flu epidemic following WWI. Soon after her mother met and married Abe M. Bunch and he dearly loved his step-daughter Willa and helped to raise her. Willa, more commonly known as “Sister”, graduated from Broken Bow High School and received a scholarship from Baylor Baptist Girls School at Belton, Texas. Her first teaching job was at Opra, a community north of Broken Bow. She later taught first grade at Bethel. During this time there were no aides and the children sat on orange crates. Records prove that she had 100 children enrolled with an 80-85 average daily attendance-and they learned to read! An independent lumber company from Mena, Arkansas moved in to Bethel. The manager had a handsome son. After two years of courtship, Willa married “the love of her life”, Howard M. Johnson. They were married in the First Baptist Church in Idabel. Howard was an executive with Tenneco Oil Co. and his career caused them to move a great deal. They returned to Idabel in 1980. After her health began to fail, Willa became a resident of Colonial Lodge and Memorial Heights Nursing Home. Willa was a member of the First Baptist Church in Idabel. She was preceded in death by her parents and step-father; husband, Howard Johnson, a brother, Preston Benjamin, his wife, Berniece, and their son, William. Willa is survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Betty and Tom Bagwell, Idabel; nephew and his wife, VADM Phillip and Pat Balisle; great-niece, Jennifer Balisle; great nephew and his wife, Jeffrey and Christy Balisle; great-great-niece, Eve Elizabeth Balisle; a special first grade student, Donald Shields, of Dallas, Texas, who visited her faithfully throughout the years, always bringing her a gift; other relatives, and a host of friends.