Catherine Lucille Johnson, 97, joined her husband, Anthony, in heaven on their 74th wedding anniversary, June 5, 2015. Catherine was born on September 15, 1917, in Floyds Knobs, Indiana, to Otto and Mabel Fenwick Andres. She was the eldest of seven children. Catherine was raised on a farm with her siblings, always helping to farm the land, raise livestock, and taking care of her younger siblings. She graduated from New Albany High School and at age 18, came to Indiana State Teachers College to pursue her dream of being a teacher. She received her two year degree and returned to Floyds Knobs to teach in a one room schoolhouse, but not before falling in love with Anthony Wayne "Pete" Johnson from Terre Haute. They were married in 1941 and moved to Terre Haute, where they would live the rest of their lives, raising their children. Catherine eventually obtained her B.S., M.S., and her sixth year in elementary education, special education, and administration from Indiana State, and had life licenses in all three areas. She was one of the first teachers at Beacon School of the Valley (now United Cerebral Palsy), teaching and caring for children with disabilities. Later, she would begin her career with Vigo County School Corporation as a part-time teacher, co-teaching with others, at Thornton Elementary School. She then taught fourth grade at Thornton until it closed in 1978. The last five years of her career were spent at Lost Creek Elementary, for a total of 35 years with Vigo County Schools. She received the Teacher of Excellence Award, among others. Her dedication to educating and helping children lasted her whole life. Catherine was very active in church, educational, and community organizations. She was a member of St. Joseph University Parish and was a eucharistic minister for many years, often taking communion to shut-ins and the elderly. She was a lifetime member of the National Education Association, Indiana State Teachers Association, and National Education Association. She was also a member of Vigo County Retired Teachers Association and Indiana Retired Teachers Association. She was a member and president of Alpha Delta Kappa, American Business Women Association, and Lafayette Homemakers Club. She had a passion for genealogy and she and her daughter spent many hours exploring libraries, cemeteries, and other genealogical sources and making scrapbooks for her children and grandchildren. She is survived by her sons, Donald Johnson of Indianapolis, Indiana, R. Steven Johnson and wife Connie, her daughter, Andrea Ditto and husband, Michael, all of Terre Haute; two sisters: Mary Reynolds and Helen Andres, both of Floyds Knobs, Indiana, two brothers: Richard Andres and his wife, Norma, of Floyds Knobs, Indiana, and Robert Andres and wife, Janis, of Dallas, Texas, and a sister-in-law, Jeanne Andres, of Fort Wayne, Indiana; three grandchildren: Natalie Stone and husband Tim, of Cincinnati, Ohio, Neil Johnson and wife, Milly, of Tampa, Florida, and Ryan Johnson and fiance Heather Wade, of Raleigh, North Carolina, and two great-grandchildren, Katherine "Kate" (her namesake) and Jackson Stone of Cincinnati, Ohio, and her extended family, Dr. Pat Lotti and wife, Melissa and their three children, Mallory, Michael, and Chriistopher of Indianapolis, Indiana, Andrew Mallory and wife, Leslie and their children, Jack and Charlie of Avon, Indiana, and Michael Mallory of Bloomington, Indiana, several loving nieces and nephews, and special caregivers: Jeanie and Michael Morris, Sharon Jones, and Rachel Keyes,and Zach Keyes, all of Terre Haute, Indiana. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, two brothers: Otto "Bud" Andres and Wilbur J. Andres, two brothers-in-law, Leo Reynolds and Edward Andres, and two sisters-in-law, Virginia Andres and Patricia Andres. Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00am, Monday, June 15, 2015 at St. Joseph University Parish,113 South 5th Street, with Friar Fred Pasche officiating. Visitation will be 4-8p.m., with rosary at 7:30pm, Sunday, June 14, 2015 at Callahan-Hughes Funeral Home, 605 South 25th Street. Pall Bearers will be Neil Johnson, Ryan Johnson, Mike Ditto, Tim Stone, Mike Gauer, Michael Morris and Mike Ireland. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Vigo County Education Foundation, 686 Wabash Ave, P.O. Box 3703, Terre Haute, IN 47803 or Wabash Valley Community Foundation, 2901 Ohio Blvd. Suite 153, Terre Haute, IN 47803.
