Obituary of Evelyn H. Johnson

Evelyn Hall Johnson passed away at her residence at Glen Eddy on October 29, 2013. She was born November 12, 1924 in Johannesburg, South Africa, to Helen Bennett and Dr. Thomas Dennison Hall. Evelyn was married to Theron Crawford Johnson, whom she met at Bouquet River Lodge in the Adirondacks, at Sage Chapel at Cornell University on February 2, 1957. She was predeceased by her husband, brothers Alan and Lawrence Hall, son, Geoffrey Johnson and nephew David Hall. She is survived by her son Stephen Johnson, sister Patricia Hall, daughter-in-law Joyce Johnson, grandsons Michael and David Johnson, nephews Nicholas (Anne) Hall, Anthony (Claudette) Hall and nieces Jane (Robert) Hall, Patricia Hall, and Susan Hall. Evelyn came to the United States in 1946 to study Occupational Therapy at a branch of William and Mary called Richmond Professional Institute in Richmond Virginia. In 1949 she started her first job at the Orthopedic Hospital in Oxford, England. The following year she worked at Tara Acute Psychiatric Hospital in Johannesburg. She returned to the United States in 1950 taking a position at Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital in Schenectady, NY, where she worked until the birth of her first son, and, again, for ten years following her husband's death in 1978. As a member of the First Reformed Church in Schenectady Evelyn was active in the Woman's League waiting tables for the Rotary Club as well as on the Missions & Social Concerns Committee, and devotions for the Group 7 Woman's Club plus serving on occasion at the Salvation Army. In addition, she was active with "Friends of the Museum," drama for Ellis Hospital acute psychiatric patients, and restoring talking machines for the blind through the GE Elfun Society. Evelyn traveled to many exotic destinations including the Galapagos Islands, Machu Picchu and the Amazon River. Her hiking trips included the Grand Canyon, Canadian Rockies, Mt. Rainier, Grand Tetons, and Swiss Alps. Her great love of nature is reflected in her accomplished watercolors and Chinese brush paintings. Relatives and friends are invited to a Celebration of her Life on Friday, November 1, 2013 at 3 PM at The First Reformed Church of Schenectady. There will be no calling hours. Memorial contributions may be made to: The Nature Conservancy-Eastern New York Chapter, 195 New Karner Rd. Albany, NY 12205, First Reformed Church of Schenectady, 8 North Church St. Schenectady, NY 12305, WMHT Educational Telecommunications, 4 Global View Troy, NY 12180, Camp Fowler & Retreat Center, 1790 Grand Blvd. Schenectady, NY 12309.