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Mary Benn Johnson, wife of the late Julian Johnson, MD, died on April 24 in her home at Waverly Heights, a retirement community in Gladwyne. Mrs. Johnson was born in October, 1907, in Cambridge, MA. She graduated with a B.A. from Maryville College, Maryville TN; she met her husband there while singing in the Maryville Chorus. She received the graduate degree in Library Science from the Drexel Institute of Technology, now Drexel University, in Philadelphia, PA. She was a Librarian with the School District of Philadelphia until the end of WW II. After moving from Perm Valley to Gladwyne in 1957, she became an active volunteer at the Gladwyne Free Library, where she later served on the Board of Trustees. She was made an Honorary Trustee in 1985. Dr. and Mrs. Johnson moved into Waverly Heights in 1986 when the doors opened, and were among the group of Founders. Mrs. Johnson, seeing the need for a library, began to organize both books and people and soon had a functioning lending library up and running in the Waverly Heights Manor House, which at one time had been the home of her cousin, Ruth Junkin. After a number of years, she helped establish a second library in the Blair Building. Mrs. Johnson was the Librarian at Waverly Heights until 2004. The Libraries were dedicated in her honor in a ceremony in 2006. Mrs. Johnson was a member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, whose primary focus is on providing educational opportunities for female students worldwide. She enjoyed travel, particularly to England, as well as books and music. She owned and loved dogs and later, cats. She was an enthusiastic gardener. Mrs. Johnson is survived by her daughter, Joan Johnson McHugh, as well as many loving nieces and nephews. Her husband of 54 years, Julian Johnson, died in 1987. A Memorial Service will held for Mrs. Johnson on Saturday, April 28 at 1 PM at the Ardmore Presbyterian Church, corner of Montgomery Ave. and Millcreek Rd. Ardmore. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her Memory to the Gladwyne Free Library, 362 Righters Mill Road, Gladwyne, PA 19035. Chadwick & McKinney Funeral Home www.chadwickmckinney.com

Tributes

Mary B. Johnson

October 1, 1907 - April 24, 2007