Eileen Johnson

Eileen “Betty” (Tattersall) Johnson, 88, formerly of Kutztown, passed away on Saturday, April 8, 2017, in her home at Tower Court, on the campus of the Lutheran Home at Topton, holding the hand of her beloved husband, Jim.

Born of British parents to the late John and Emma Tattersall in Bombay, India, where her father was in charge of the electrification of the Grand Indian Peninsula Railroad. She is survived by her loving Husband, James E. Johnson, Sr., and four children: Sons, James E. Johnson, Jr., and his wife, Martha (Dry) Johnson, David R. Johnson, and his wife, Donna (Wessner) Johnson, both of Kutztown, and Daughters, Susan E. (Johnson) Derr, and her husband, Dale G. Derr, of Spring Township, and Victoria A. (Johnson) Wessner, and her husband, Gary A. Wessner, of Kempton, and by her Grandchildren: Matthew A. Johnson, Sarah (Johnson) Kohler, Benjamin D. Johnson, Jennifer (Johnson) Traylor, Alison (Derr) Maruca, Victoria A. Derr, Captain James W. Derr, USMC, Kristina C.L. Wessner, Corinne E. Wessner and Stephanie M. Wessner, and by Great-Grandchildren: Addyson and Elliot Johnson, Connor and Emma Maruca, Amelia Kohler and Morgan Traylor. A Grandson, Michael A. Johnson, preceded her in death. She is also survived by two Brothers, John, of Toronto, Canada, and Peter, of Vancouver, Canada. Betty led an interesting and sometimes very exciting life as a youngster. When 7 years old, she was sent from India to attend a boarding school in England and during school holidays, to live with a guardian in Brighton, England. In 1941, when her parents were asked by the Government to remove their children from England, if possible, Betty and her mother were on a ship in Liverpool Harbor while the city was being bombed by the German Luftwaffe. During the sea journey to India, they were chased into Capetown, South Africa and Mombasa, Kenya, by a Nazi warship.

In India, she was sent to a missionary school for girls in the south-central part of the country- a train journey three days and two nights’ distance from Bombay. Some of the teaching staff were ladies who were on rest leave from a nearby leper colony. In 1944, she and her mother and younger brother were on a ship in a convoy in the Indian Ocean when another ship in their convoy was sunk by a Japanese submarine. Her convoy was just the second group of ships to pass through the Suez Canal after it re-opened. She returned to her previous school in England's Lake District, and graduated as Head Girl (Valedictorian) in 1946. Betty earned her teaching credentials from the University of London, Mariah Gray College, in 1949. She met her future husband while teaching at the American School in Athens, Greece. Betty taught in Pennsylvania elementary schools in Lewisburg, Warren, and Kutztown. She established and then led the Kutztown Area School District elementary school guidance program for five years. Her lovely British accent was a novelty here in Berks County and she became a beloved teacher to hundreds of students over the years. She earned both her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education and Master's Degree in Guidance from Kutztown University. Betty was a member of East Penn Retired Teachers Association and a member of St. John's United Church of Christ in Kutztown. She loved to knit, read, and play the piano, but especially doted on her children and grandchildren. She loved to travel and thoroughly enjoyed the many cruises she and Jim were able to experience. Elegant and a true lady, Betty was always ready with a warm cup of tea for anyone who came to visit.

A memorial service to celebrate Eileen's life will be held on Thursday, April 13, 2017 at 11:00 AM in St. John’s United Church of Christ, 257 West Walnut Street, Kutztown, with Reverend Michael W. Beynon officiating. Inurnment will follow in Hope Cemetery, Kutztown. The family will receive relatives and friends on Thursday morning from 10:00 to 11:00 AM in the church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made in Betty’s memory to St. John’s UCC Benevolent Fund, 257 W. Walnut Street, Kutztown, PA  19530. Arrangements are by the Ludwick Funeral Home, Kutztown, PA.