Dorothy Ann Johnson

Dorothy (Dodo) Ann Johnson
February 5, 1929 – May 5, 2018

Dorothy Johnson, 89 passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 5th from Alzheimer's Disease. Preceding Dodo in death were her parents, Harold W. and Margaret Wells Heater of Dayton, as well as her beloved sister, Mary Susan (Susie) McAllister of Waverly, Ohio, and her former husband, Jack Johnson.

Dodo is survived by her daughters, Debbie Kracus (Tom) of Centerville, Ohio and Sandy Pepper (Mark) of Lakewood Ranch, FL; granddaughters, Michelle Taylor (Nathan) of Cleveland, OH, Melissa Jacobs (Matt) of Florence, Alabama, and grandsons, Michael Pepper and Justin Pepper, both of Lakewood Ranch, FL; great granddaughter, Sophia Grace Taylor; great grandsons, Brandt Edward and Gage Thomas Jacobs; brother-in-law, John McAllister, and the entire McAllister family and Dodo's wonderful lifelong friend, Susan Hall.

Dodo was born to Harold and Margaret and spent her childhood years visiting family in Edinburg, Indiana as well as many vacations with extended family on Lake Michigan. These vacations continued after she was married and had her daughters. At times, her father worked during the summer in Maine and she and her Mother and sister would spend time with him there. Dodo absolutely loved the outdoors, swimming, boating and sunshine.

Dodo was a member of Otterbein United Methodist Church for the majority of her lifetime and raised her daughters in Otterbein as well. We all shared many, many wonderful memories of potluck suppers, the annual congregant picnic at Triangle Park and fellowship.

Dodo attended Miami University of Ohio as well as Franklin College in Franklin, IN. She was a member of the Tri-Delta Sorority and continued to have communication with her sorority sisters for decades after finishing college.

Dodo was fortunate to find work in the Marketing Research industry in her early 30's that started her career in this line of work which she loved. She first started telephoning and interviewing housewives about any type of product imaginable. This led going door-to-door throughout the Dayton area to market new products such as hair spray, Dippity-Do or breakfast cereals. In the 1970's Dodo became part owner of Dayton Research Service until the company was dissolved due to illness and the ultimate death of her good friend and co-owner Barbara Welsh. Dodo continued to hold supervisory positions with other Marketing Research companies throughout Dayton until her retirement at age 80.

Dodo's greatest joy was her family. Over her entire life, she instilled a sense of family in her daughters stating "If you don't have your family, then what do you have?" Deb and Sandy feel so fortunate to have had a Mother who always showed determination, strength, love and a strong sense of self. In many ways, she was a woman before her time.

Deb and Sandy would like to thank the staff of Bethany Village for the loving care they have provided to their Mother over the past 5+ years. They always ensured that Dodo never lost her dignity particularly throughout the final stages of her illness.

Until we meet again Mommy….Thank You for all of your love, sacrifice and fun, but most of all your laughter.

Visitation will be held from 5:30 – 7:00 pm Friday, May 11, 2018 at Newcomer (South Chapel) 3940 Kettering Blvd., Kettering, OH. A Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, May 12, 2018 also at Newcomer with Rev. Bob Skipper officiating.

In lieu of Flowers, Deb and Sandy ask that donations be made to Hospice of Dayton in their Mother's memory.