Obituary for
Nancy Luse Johnson
Nancy Graeser Luse Johnson, age 88, of Abingdon, Va., passed away on December 24, 2017, after holiday celebrations with family members.
Born July 25, 1929, the daughter of the late Edwin F. and Nona G. Luse of Charleroi, PA, and the oldest of four siblings.
Nancy was an accomplished pianist and seamstress and enjoyed playing golf, tennis and ping pong. She graduated from Charleroi High School in 1947 where her father was a local school principal and then Allegheny College (1951) as a biology major (Phi Beta Phi) and member of Alpha Xi Delta sorority (1948). One of her favorite summer jobs was working as a counselor at Jumonville Christian camp in PA. Upon college graduation she moved to Baltimore, MD, where she worked as a lab technician at ECBC. While there Nancy met her future husband Robert (Bob) E. Johnson during his service in the US Navy. They became engaged and were married on March 14, 1953, in Charleroi, PA. After his term of duty was completed they moved to Abingdon, VA, which is Bob’s hometown. Bob and Nancy had five children so their lives were full of school, piano, sports, band and church. During the Abingdon summers Nancy orchestrated many weekends at the family lake cabin with children, friends and relatives sharing in the fun. Nancy's many endearing qualities included her constant positive outlook and inquisitive mind -- such a positive role model for her children. To spend time with friends, Bob and Nancy loved to attend Virginia Highlands dances, Barter Theater and play bridge. Along with raising their five children, Nancy held numerous leadership and community roles as president of school PTAs, the Jr. Women's Club, the United Methodist Women, S.E.E. (a school program which promoted gifted education), the Booklovers Club, and Chairman of the Gifted Committee of Washington County, Virginia. She also served on the Art Committee of VA Highlands Festival and supported the William King Art Center. Upon Bob’s retirement, Bob and Nancy traveled in US/Europe, frequently visited their children and enjoyed time in Charleston, SC, and Venice, FL. They moved to Maryville, Tenn., in 2008, and then returned home to Abingdon in 2015.
In addition to her parents, Nancy was preceded in death by her brothers, Richard E. Luse and George F. Luse, II.
She is survived by her husband Robert of sixty-four years, one sister, Jane L. Deakin of Hilton Head, SC, five children: Carol Johnson (Bill Ackerman), Gail Grau (Jim), Jane Vanderwerf (John), Marilyn Davis (Kent), and Alan Johnson who now live in the San Francisco Bay Area, Abingdon, and Knoxville, Tenn. Bob and Nancy have eight grandchildren: Laura Ackerman, Bryan (Rachel) and Alex Grau, Kelly Vanderwerf, Hallie and Sydney Davis, and Baily and Taylor Jane Johnson, and several nieces and a nephew.
The Johnson family would like to extend appreciation to the staff of English Meadows Assisted Living and Caris Healthcare for their caring support of our mother.
A private family service is planned. A public memorial will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Arthritis Foundation (http://www.arthritis.org/) or Allegheny College (https://sites.allegheny.edu/annualgiving/ways-to-give/)
