AMHERST – Virginia Ladd Johnson, 100, died Monday, July 13, at the Center for Extended Care in Amherst. 

Born Dec. 1, 1914, in Washington, DC, she was the daughter of the late Bernard G. and Edith Ladd. She attended DC public schools and graduated from the former Wilson Teacher’s College, a predecessor of the University of the District of Columbia. She taught first grade in the DC schools for several years. 

In 1938 she married another teacher, Keith C. Johnson, and concentrated on raising her family, which included providing care and therapy to her youngest two children after they contracted polio in 1949.  

She and her husband were avid square dancers. They were also active members of St. Columba’s Episcopal Church in Washington, singing in the choir and founding two bell choirs there. When her children were older she went back to teaching in the church day school for many more years. After Keith died suddenly in 1983, she remained involved in the life of the church, joined a group that regularly attended the theater, and travelled with some of her many friends.  

She lived in Washington all her life until moving to The Arbors at Amherst in 2001 to be near family. She was an avid reader and worker of crossword puzzles. After her eyesight failed in recent years, she continued listening to audio books until her death. 

She is survived by two daughters, Kay (Johnson) Moran of Amherst and Janet (Johnson) McAlister and husband Thomas of Huntsville, AL; her son David Ladd Johnson and wife Judith of Oshawa, Ontario; six grandchildren, Seth C. Moran of Camas, WA; Amy Ladd Moran of Kailua, HI; Brian McAlister of Gardendale, AL; Michael McAlister of Harvest, AL; Paige (Johnson) Wallis of Malden, MA; and Amanda (Johnson) Gentry of Monroe, WA; and 12 great-grandchildren. Her son-in-law Charles Moran III, her brother Bernard D. Ladd, and a great-grandson died earlier. 

Ceremonies will be private.

Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com

Service details, Social networking, Memorial Guestbook and Slideshow are available here.