Obituary of Roberta B. Johnson

Roberta B. Johnson, age 86 of the Iowa City Rehabilitation and Health Care Center, Iowa City died March 25, 2008 at the Care Center as a result of old age and infirmities. At Roberta’s request, no funeral services are planned. She has donated her body to the University of Iowa for medical research. Burial of cremains will take place at a later date at the IOOF Cemetery in Indianola, Iowa. Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service of Iowa city is caring for Roberta’s family and her arrangements. Roberta Lucile Brown was born March 20, 1922 in Indianola, Warren County, Iowa, the oldest daughter of Roy Lewis Brown and Avis Grace McAdoo. She attended elementary school in Indianola and graduated from Indianola High School and Simpson College. During World War II she served in the Women’s Army Corp (WAC.) She enlisted 31 Oct 1945 and received an honorable discharge as A702775, Technician Fifth Grade, 63rd WAC Hospital Company. She then served in the Army Reserve receiving an honorable discharge 30 June 1961 as M2 599 Captain Army Medical Service Corps. While in the service she worked as a physical therapist at army hospitals. After moving to Johnson County, she had graduate studies in Physical Therapy at the University of Iowa. Roberta worked for many years as a physical therapist at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Roberta met her future husband while attending the First Presbyterian Church in Tacoma, Washington. She was united in marriage to Paul August Johnson on October 27, 1951 at the First Baptist Church in Indianola, Iowa. She was a member of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, Iowa City, IA. For many years the Johnsons managed a number of apartments in houses they owned in Iowa City. The developed a special relationship with foreign students especially many from India. At one time, Roberta was invited to travel to India to attend the wedding of one tenant. Others kept in contact with the Johnsons after leaving the university. Failing health made it necessary for Roberta and Paul to move to the Iowa City Rehabilitation and Health Care Center in August 2001. There they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in October 2001. Roberta was preceded in death by her husband Paul, her parents, and her brother-in-law Ralph Wilkinson. Roberta’s family includes her sister Emily Wilkinson of Lebanon, OR; sister Cora and husband John Lammey of Pleasant Hill, IA; Emily and Ralph’s children and grand children; and Cora and John’s children and grand children. She is also survived by numerous cousins. Memorial donations may be sent to: The American Parkinson Disease Assoc, Inc., Parkinson Plaza, 135 Parkinson Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10305-1245