Mrs. Val Booth Johnson

Val Booth Johnson, died on Christmas Day at her daughter, Diane Wilbanks’, home in Atlanta, Georgia. The daughter of the late Willis Ray and Bess Booth, Val Doris Booth was born in Lynch Kentucky, in 1929. She was preceded in death by her husband, Victor Lynn Johnson of Trentville, Tennessee, who died in 1989. Val was Valedictorian at Lynch High School and attended Western Kentucky University. After her marriage to Victor, they lived in Augusta, Georgia and were associated with Bower’s Thrift Stores. Val was an active member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, sang in the church choir, and in the Augusta Choral Society. After moving to Asheville in 1969, she was a member of Saint Mark’s Lutheran Church, and the Asheville Country Club. Val also supported a number of other community and philanthropic organizations; in particular, Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry (ABCCM), the Asheville Symphony, Asheville Community Theatre, the Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre and the Gardeniers. She enjoyed relationships in a wide network of friends and acquaintances, loved attending musical and theatrical productions, traveling, and cooking. She loved to play bridge, Rummicube and card games of many sorts. She was an avid collector and teller of jokes. She will be especially remembered for her joy and zest for life, her kindness and generosity, and her love for her grandchildren, family and friends. Val is survived by her children: son, Kirk Johnson and his wife, Martha, of Eppelheim, Germany, daughter, Vicki Fritsch and her husband, Ed, of Raleigh, and daughter, Diane Wilbanks, and her husband, Marlan, of Atlanta, GA; sister, Mona Ely and her husband, George, of Lexington, KY; and five grandchildren; Lauren Seiple, Sarah and JT Fritsch, Julia Johnson and Madie Wilbanks. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, December 29, 2011 at Saint Mark’s Lutheran Church at 10 N. Liberty St., Asheville, NC. Rev. Chris Webb will officiate. The family will have a private burial prior to the memorial service. A reception will follow the memorial service at the Asheville Country Club. In lieu of flowers, it is requested that memorial gifts be made to the Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry, 30 Cumberland Ave., Asheville, NC 28801, and Saint Mark’s Lutheran Church, PO Box 8608, Asheville, NC 28814. Morris Funeral Home, 304 Merrimon Avenue, Asheville is assisting the family. Condolences may be sent through the website at www.morrisfamilyfuneralhome.com.

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Mrs. Val Booth Johnson

October 1, 1929 - December 25, 2011