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ENLARGE
November 28, 1907 - July 28, 2010
Bertie was born in Clearwater, California, to D.C. and Hannah Johnson. She had one brother. Her mother died when she was four and her father remarried when she was seven, adding a step brother and later on five half sisters, to her family. They have all pre deceased her except Maureen Wardlow of Roseburg, Oregon, and Goldie Gaska of Salem, Oregon, and many nieces and nephews. Bertie spent most of her childhood in Corona, California. She was a graduate of Corona High School, attended junior college in Riverside, California. She worked in Riverside until 1942 and moved to Culver City and worked at an aircraft factory until 1944 when she joined the WAC's. She was stationed at Boling Field Airforce Base and served as a telephone operator, plus helping to keep the phone lines in working order in the communications office. When the war ended she joined the staff of the Army Navy Journal. While there she wrote a short story “Never Ending Times” which was published by the New Yorker in October 12, 1952, issue. She really wanted to be a writer but, working two jobs and trying to find some fun time she got side tracked. She started many stories but never finished them. She Joined the Arthur Murray Dance School and spent some of her spare time teaching under privileged teenagers to dance. She stopped when one of her students started stalking her. She loved to travel and went to Europe three times. Once by herself following a “See your Europe on $5.00 a day plan.” This was her most enjoyable trip. When she wasnít visiting her family on the west coast she toured the east coast. She studied Russian, Greek and French at night school to prepare for her trips to Europe. She never visited Russia. She retired from the Army Navy Journal in 1972 and moved to Sacramento, California, to be near her brother, George. When he died she moved to Mc Cloud, California and later to Roseburg, Oregon. She was an avid reader and owned hundreds of books. While in her early 70's she had cataract surgery on both eyes, the operation left her with severely damaged vision. In her mid 90's she was diagnosed with macular degeneration. It devastated her. Her precious books would go unread. She adjusted to her new limitations, yet almost in denial, she would say “it's a grey day.” She absorbed herself in her gardening, her second love to books. She kept a beautiful yard, living alone until she was 99. She then moved to a care home, an almost heart breaking decision made for her not by her. In March of 2009 she became a patient at the transition care unit at the Roseburg Veteran hospital where she received wonderful care. Cared for by Angels without wings. She was happy there and loved her care takers. She had an amazing memory loved to tell stories of her life, always hoping to find a captive audience. She marched to a different drummer and relished every step she took. She never knew the meaning of anger, frustration yes! Anger no! Anger was beneath her. She was quick to smile and laugh, very private about any sadness in her life. She will be missed by her family and friends. She was a very independent, loving and wonderful lady. So Bertie its “ Ok, Ok, Ok goodnight dear sister, we will see you in the morning.”
Bertie was born in Clearwater, California, to D.C. and Hannah Johnson. She had one brother. Her mother died when she was four and her father remarried when she was seven, adding a step brother and later on five half sisters, to her family. They have all pre deceased her except Maureen Wardlow of Roseburg, Oregon, and Goldie Gaska of Salem, Oregon, and many nieces and nephews. Bertie spent most of her childhood in Corona, California. She was a graduate of Corona High School, attended junior college in Riverside, California. She worked in Riverside until 1942 and moved to Culver City and worked at an aircraft factory until 1944 when she joined the WAC's. She was stationed at Boling Field Airforce Base and served as a telephone operator, plus helping to keep the phone lines in working order in the communications office. When the war ended she joined the staff of the Army Navy Journal. While there she wrote a short story “Never Ending Times” which was published by the New Yorker in October 12, 1952, issue. She really wanted to be a writer but, working two jobs and trying to find some fun time she got side tracked. She started many stories but never finished them. She Joined the Arthur Murray Dance School and spent some of her spare time teaching under privileged teenagers to dance. She stopped when one of her students started stalking her. She loved to travel and went to Europe three times. Once by herself following a “See your Europe on $5.00 a day plan.” This was her most enjoyable trip. When she wasnít visiting her family on the west coast she toured the east coast. She studied Russian, Greek and French at night school to prepare for her trips to Europe. She never visited Russia. She retired from the Army Navy Journal in 1972 and moved to Sacramento, California, to be near her brother, George. When he died she moved to Mc Cloud, California and later to Roseburg, Oregon. She was an avid reader and owned hundreds of books. While in her early 70's she had cataract surgery on both eyes, the operation left her with severely damaged vision. In her mid 90's she was diagnosed with macular degeneration. It devastated her. Her precious books would go unread. She adjusted to her new limitations, yet almost in denial, she would say “it's a grey day.” She absorbed herself in her gardening, her second love to books. She kept a beautiful yard, living alone until she was 99. She then moved to a care home, an almost heart breaking decision made for her not by her. In March of 2009 she became a patient at the transition care unit at the Roseburg Veteran hospital where she received wonderful care. Cared for by Angels without wings. She was happy there and loved her care takers. She had an amazing memory loved to tell stories of her life, always hoping to find a captive audience. She marched to a different drummer and relished every step she took. She never knew the meaning of anger, frustration yes! Anger no! Anger was beneath her. She was quick to smile and laugh, very private about any sadness in her life. She will be missed by her family and friends. She was a very independent, loving and wonderful lady. So Bertie its “ Ok, Ok, Ok goodnight dear sister, we will see you in the morning.”
