Obituary: ALICE DANNANBAUM DILDAY JOHNSON
Alice D. Dilday Johnson passed away peacefully on the 15th day of August 2014 at age 77 while residing at a residential care facility, New World RCFE, in Poway.
She was born Alice Dannenbaum to Robert and Letty Dannenbaum, December 11, 1936 in Wilmington North Carolina. She was the second of two children. Her older brother, Peter Dannenbaum, died in his late 40's and is survived by 5 sons.
Alice was a graduate from the University of North Carolina and was recruited from there to teach school in San Diego, California. She went on to receive her Master's Degree at San Diego State. She taught English, Literature and History. Her first assignment was at Horace Mann Junior High School and she spent the balance of her 35 years teaching 11th and 12th graders at Madison High School.
Alice was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority at UNC Chapel Hill. Alice married Irving Johnson in 1998 and enjoyed a full life with him in Ramona, CA until Alzheimer's got so far advanced that she needed to move to a residential care facility in Poway, New World RCFE.
She is survived by her husband, Irving Johnson, her daughters, Gwyn, Sharon and Desiree', one son, Shannon, 6 grandchildren, Brittney, Samantha, Trent, Casey, Johanna, and Joshua, and one great grandson, Hayden.
Alice was of the old school and believed it was her job to help her students become responsible citizens of our country, with good moral values and a sense of loyalty toward their community and country (along with teaching the subject at hand). That concept seems to be lost in today's generation. She was also a staunch advocate of her students seeking a higher education beyond High School and to that end, she tried to instill that desire in them. Alice loved life! She could light up a room with her million watt smile, dance till sunrise and laugh like a waterfall...her beauty was singular.
For us there will never be another Alice but we will remember her always for what she gave us...her love, her kindness, her brave and generous heart. We will miss her terribly, but when we see the sun shining off the water, humming birds flitting through the trees, or hear the sound of children laughing, we'll know she's with us still...and always. Alice was a force in all ways; a fierce competitor on the tennis court... a tireless hiker who never met a mountain she didn't want to climb. She was a fearless traveler who flew down zip-lines in Alaska, faced down bear and moose in the Tetons, swam with the dolphins off the Yucatan coast, parasailed in Baja, hiked the northern coast of Scotland, rafted wild rivers and snorkeled the Great Barrier Reef. Those were just a few of her countless adventures, since every day was a new adventure for her. That was just her spirit...brave, bold, and boundless in every way.
Alice was a compassionate and loving parent, teacher and wife. She believed in people and did everything she could to encourage their dreams, sooth their hearts and nurture their spirits. Ever true to her nature, Alice was involved with an Alzheimer's research program for a number of years and has donated her brain immediately upon her death to UCSD for research purposes. There will be a celebration of life held in the ball room of the San Vicente Inn & Golf Resort, 24157 San Vicente Road, Ramona, CA 92065. on September 6.
Published in the Wilmington Star-News on Aug. 17, 2014
