Dorothy McWhorter "Dot" Johnson

Dorothy McWhorter (?Dot?) Johnson, of Jefferson City, TN died October 12, 2010 after almost 95 years on earth. The youngest of four children of Joseph Clinton McWhorter and Lena Belle Wilson McWhorter, she was born in Charleston, West Virginia on December 6, 1915 and graduated from Charleston High School in 1932. She eloped with her life?s love, Charles Frohman Johnson in 1936, and reveled in 43 years of marriage until his death in 1979. Looking no further than the fourth letter of the alphabet for naming inspiration, they raised sons, Daniel, David and Dean and daughter Deborah. She was a lifelong member of Bream Memorial Presbyterian Church in Charleston, West Virginia. At Bream she taught Sunday School, ran the vacation bible school, and served as deacon, elder and in many other capacities. Her Christian faith sustained her and she was a supporter of her home ministry as well as others when she lived and traveled. Raising her family was her first priority, yet she enjoyed a short career in fashion retailing, office administration and loan processing. She traveled internationally from her mid 60s, worked part time until she was almost 80 and drove until she was 92. Beginning in her mid sixties, she expanded her horizons by traveling to major American, European and Asian capitals. Although unable to attend college due to the depression, she and her husband raised four children all with advanced degrees and she attended Lansing (Michigan) Community College in her 60s. She was well known for her enduring friendship, generous spirit, perfect grammar, precise penmanship, Scottish frugality, Christian faith, love of desserts and keenness for new adventure, though was less well known for her culinary expertise. Dorothy is survived by: son Daniel Frohman Johnson and wife Nancy Wells Johnson of Charlotte, NC; son David Clinton Johnson and wife Barbara Raines Johnson of Hickory, NC; daughter Deborah Johnson Rinehart and husband John William Rinehart of Talbott, TN; and son Dean McWhorter Johnson and wife Maurie McInnis of Charlottesville, VA. She leaves grandchildren Daniel Frohman Johnson, Jr., Kyle McWhorter Johnson, Leanne Johnson Cantrell, Aimee Johnson Davis, Michael Lee Rinehart, Aaron Scott Rinehart, Ian Malcolm Johnson, and Fiona McInnis Johnson; and great-grandchildren Kyle McWhorter Johnson, Jr., Condie McWhorter-Raines Cantrell, Alexandra Elizabeth Rinehart, and Conner McWhorter Rinehart. In lieu of flowers, she requested that contributions be sent in her memory to Bream Memorial Presbyterian Church, 317 W. Washington St., Charleston, West Virginia. 25302 A memorial service will he held at Bream Memorial Presbyterian Church in Charleston, West Virginia on October 23, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time. Arrangements by Farrar Funeral Home in Jefferson City, TN (865) 475-3892