Dorothy Marie Johnson

Dorothy Marie Johnson, age 99, passed away on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. Born on March 28, 1927 in Evansville, Indiana to Walter and Ida Berger (Block), Dorothy graduated from Central High School in 1945 and studied piano at Evansville College. She worked as executive secretary at Southern Indiana Gas and Electric for 10 years and left there when she had children. She later served on the Board of Directors for the Evansville Protestant Home for 37 years and was an active volunteer at Deaconess Hospital from 1998 to 2021.

An accomplished musician with perfect pitch who could sight-read any music chart placed in front of her, she served as pianist /accompanist for countless musicians in and around Evansville, including for her husband, William M. Johnson, when he was teaching vocal music at Central High School or serving as Music Director for St. Lucas United Church of Christ or

Trinity Methodist Church. Her last professional music position was playing piano and organ for early morning services at Trinity Methodist Church, which she did until the age of 93.

Dorothy moved to assisted living in Ravenna, Ohio, where her brother had moved his family in the 1960s and where she had many relatives. She was much beloved by the community of family and staff at Vista Veranda, and a memorial service was held there April 11.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband of 42 years, William M. Johnson, her brother and sister-in-law Kenneth and Barbara Berger, and her niece Kenna Roberts.

She is survived by her two sons, Jeffrey and Scott Johnson, her nephew Robert Berger and nieces Laura Berger-Mullen and Karen Drotar.

In honoring her wishes, Dorothy has been cremated and will be laid to rest, next to her husband, at Tupman Cemetery in Evansville, IN.

Services in the care of Bissler & Sons Funeral Home and Crematory, 628 W. Main St. Kent, OH 44240.