CLASS OF 1942
Stella (Young) Johnson, age 94, of Richland Township, passed away on
Saturday, May 4, 2019.
Stella was a woman with an indomitable spirit and sharp sense of humor.
At 4’10” with bright red hair she was better known by her nickname ‘Torchy’.
She could put you in place as quickly as she could make you laugh and her
stories were many. Stella was an amazing cook and was always excited to
try some new recipe she found in a magazine or cook book. You would be
lucky for a seat at her table. There was no equal to her Chocolate Kahlua
Cake or her Gooseberry Pie. Stella was also a wonderful gardener. Over
the years you could see her with her great big sunhat and her tools tending
a row of purple irises that lined her driveway in Orchard Park. It was her
real pride and joy as well as a challenge to her grandchildren to jump over
and not get caught. She also planted an entire hill of pachysandra that fell
beautifully into her lower backyard like a waterfall of foliage. With her
neighbors she spent many nights of charades or the Internationall Dinner
pot luck parties. She had a life well lived.
Born on October 30, 1924 in Paola, KS she attended school in Osawatomie,
Kansas and graduated from high school with the class of 1942. Stella also
lived in Missouri, California and Kentucky before settling in at Gibsonia, PA
where she and her husband lived and raised their family for over 50 years.
As a mother she supported her children’s activities by becoming the PTA
President, a Den Mother for her son’s Cub Scout group, a brownie Leader for
her daughters, and the President of the Richland High School Bank Boosters.
Stella was also an active presence in the community serving as the North
Hill Baptist Church Secretary, a member of the Eastern Star, and volunteering
for John Heinz’s political campaign in 1971.
The only thing fiercer than her haracter was her love for her husband, Edsel
Johnson. Stella and Eddie met at a roller rink in Lawrence, KS where Eddie
was attending the University of Kansas. Towering over her at 6’ they caught
everyone’s eye at they skated around the rink. It was love at first sight. It
was also WWII and Eddie enlisted in the Navy and w sent to the Notre Dame
Officer Training School before being sent to the Pacific. Stella worked at the
Sunflower Gunpowder Plant as a secretary. During all of this, they became
engaged. Stella waiting 3½ years for Eddie to return from war. No longer
able to wait, Eddie went AWOL, bought a car, drove from California to
Lawrence, KS and married Stella on March 21, 1946. They then drove down
to Mexico for their honeymoon and their great adventure began. Through
good times and bad they always loved each other deeply.
Stella is survived by her brother, Noah Young; her children Linda Murphy,
Retired Navy Captain Steve Johnson, and Peggy Tobin; their spouses Lew;
Murphy and Karen Johnson; her grandchildren Brandy Keenan, Logan Murphy,
Devon Murphy, Cheryl Machi, Matt Johnson, Erin Dyer, Katie Tobin and Alex
Tobin; their spouses Mike Keenan, Marty Machi, and Bryan Dyer; and her
great grandchildren Phineas Keenan, Eowyn Keenan, Beckett Keenan, Hobbes
Keenan, Rex Machi, Riley Dyer, and Ava Lane.
Stella’s family will welcome friends from 4-8 p.m. on May 10, 2019 at the
King Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc., 2841 Woodland Circle on
Alison Park, PA.
A Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 11, at the King
Funeral Home foLlowed by interment at Allegheny County Memorial Park in
Allison Park.