Virginia Phillips Johnson, 92, Vero Beach
Virginia Phillips (nee Phelps) Johnson passed on to her eternal home May 8, 2018, at the home of her daughter in Vero Beach surrounded by family. She was 92 years old. Born Aug. 25, 1925, in Gypsy, W. Va., Virginia was the daughter of a coal miner, the late Audrey Leon (Mose) Phillips, and the late Marguerite Noon Phillips.
She is also preceded in death by her sister, June P. Myers, of Vero Beach.
Survivors include her four children and their spouses, Kimberly P. (Billy) Rogers, William R. (Nancy) Phelps, Kerry P. (Bob) Dale and Mickey A. (Frank) Addison; eight grandchildren, Brendan J. (Chrissy) Rogers, Bradley W. Rogers, Brooke A. (Eric) Queen, Jesse B. Phelps, Matthew T. Phelps, Emily E. Dale, Carter P. Dale and Madeleine C. Dale; and five great-grandchildren.
Only a couple days before her passing, she held her latest great-grandchild born just two days earlier.
She is also survived by her beloved companion of many years, her cat, Pixie.
She loved her family and bragged of them often, counting her sons-in-law and daughter-in-law as her own.
She was a very independent and resourceful lady and worked hard to raise her children through some tough times.
Widowed for 37 years, she had lived in her own home independently up until her fall just two months ago. She and Pixie moved in with her daughter in Vero Beach just weeks before her passing and enjoyed memorable family visits and precious times.
As a young woman she was a telephone operator in West Virginia before meeting her children’s father and moving to Cambridge, Ohio.
After marrying Jack Phelps and moving to Cambridge, Ohio, they began their family and remained for several years before moving in 1959 to Plantation, Fla., then up the coast to Vero Beach and eventually ending in Satellite Beach.
After losing her late husband, Bill Johnson in 1981, she moved to Palm Bay, Fla., her home for almost 40 years. She retired from Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) in March 1989 after 23 years of government service and then went on to enjoy her retirement for the next 29 years.
Included in their many fond memories with their mother, her children count as one of the best the time they took her for her 75th birthday on a “mystery trip” to her hometown of Lumberport, W. Va., where she grew up and graduated high school. Her joy at visiting her past was unforgettable.
Her retirement was spent with her family and the crafts she loved, always having several projects going at one time. She crocheted and loved to paint, especially small wooden projects.
Her kids remember fondly when she would make marzipan candies at the holidays that she would distribute to family and friends. Happy and comfortable at home, she loved to read and watch golf and tennis on television.
She loved her friends and neighbors and their visits over coffee and sweets or a glass of wine. They were very faithful to look in on her and her family appreciated it dearly.
Virginia was a beautiful woman inside and out and possessed a keen sense of humor and quick wit, even up to the end as she brought smiles and laughter to her family, visitors and Hospice caregivers. Her generous spirit and “sassiness,” as her grandchildren referred to it, will be missed by all who knew and loved her.
The family will receive family and friends at Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home from 10-11 a.m. on Saturday, May 19, with a Celebration of Life to follow at 11 a.m.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to VNA-Hospice of the Treasure Coast who so lovingly and generously supported the patient and the entire family with compassion and dignity.
