Brenda Joyce Johns

Brenda Joyce Johns, 97, of Muncie, passed away on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital. She was born on August 10, 1927, in Staines, Middlesex, England, to Joseph and Susan (Wiggins) Drake. Brenda married J.C. Johns on March 21, 1945, and he preceded her in passing on May 16, 1996.

Brenda and J.C. met in England, during World War II. After only a few months of knowing each other, J.C. proposed to Brenda. They got married and after the war, they moved to Muncie to start their life together. After working at Warner Gear for a while, J.C. decided to start his own home improvement company, J.C. Johns Roofing & Siding. Brenda worked alongside him helping with daily operations and clerical work. She and J.C. enjoyed spending winters in Florida and after the kids were grown, they bought a condo in Cocoa Beach.

Brenda enjoyed watching the Cincinnati Reds play. She loved tea, especially Red Rose; she would host a ladies English Club that gathered one evening each month, which J.C. so lovingly nicknamed the “Heckling Hens”. Brenda enjoyed spending her Sunday mornings talking on the phone with her sister, Valerie, and nieces, Ann and Elaine. She was an avid gardener; she loved flowers and feeding the birds, especially hummingbirds and yellow finches. Brenda also loved her dog, Lucy, who went with her everywhere.

Brenda is survived by her children, Michael Johns, Chris Foster, and Susan (Alan) Goebel; grandchildren, Kimberly (Alex) Mitchell, Michael (Rachel) Johns, Travis (Sam) Goebel, Amanda (Jon) Salmon, Cynthia (Mac) Hines, Collin (Courtney) Goebel, and Julie (David) Mead; 10 great-grandchildren; son-in-law, Eddy Herniak; and sisters, Valerie Yates and Dorene Smith.

She was preceded in passing by her parents; husband, J.C.; daughter, Linda Herniak; daughter-in-law, Marilyn Johns; son-in-law, Ronald Foster; sisters, Jean (Edward) Peacock and Jo (John) French; brother, Dennis (Marie) Drake; and brothers-in-law, William Yates and Ron Smith.

A funeral service will be held at 1 pm on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at Elm Ridge Funeral Home, 4600 W. Kilgore Ave., Muncie, IN 47304. Burial will follow in Elm Ridge Memorial Park. Friends may visit with the family from 11 am until the time of the service on Tuesday, at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to ARF, 1209 W Riggin Rd, Muncie, IN 47303. Messages of condolence may be left online at www.elmridgefuneralhome.com.