Wanda Johnston

Wandalee Johnston, 90 of Spring Hill, Florida and formerly of Key Colony Beach, Florida and Evansville, Indiana passed away Thursday, August 13, 2020 peacefully at her home which was one of her greatest desires. She was born in Millersburg, Indiana on January 20, 1930 to William and Selma Feagley.

Wanda attended Bible Center Cathedral in Evansville and New Beginnings Life Center in Spring Hill.

She was proceeded in death by her parents, her husband of 58 years, Clyde B. Johnston, her eldest son Micheal Johnston, eldest daughter Beverly Wiley and three grandchildren Lori Lynn, Robert Clyde, and Kevin Charles Wiley and additionally four of her siblings.

She is survived by her children James (Jackie), Randall (Sheril), Rebecca Jackson of Las Vegas NV, Daughter-in-law, Paula Johnston, Son-in-law, Charles Wiley and her two youngest daughters who were her caregivers, Brenda Johnston and Vicki Johnston. In addition to her favorite caregiver, grandson Bobby Johnston-Cameron. She also has an additional 21 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren, two great-great grandchildren, and brother Isaac Eugene Feagley (Delores).

Wanda was born in a small farming community but knew there was much more to life for her. She had a spirit of adventure from a very young age. She taught herself to swim, roller skate, and ride a bike with her neighbors. Her beloved Aunt Edna, whom she was named after, always said “they didn’t know how to have kids, until they had you”. The quiet meek mold was broken with her. She met Clyde through her city slicker cousin and he thought she was a beauty thus started their 58 years of marriage. Wanda and Clyde worked hard as a team and played hard. They bought houses and turned them into multi units then started new buildings. Mom, pregnant, would be on the job site with two toddlers mixing concrete and doing what needed to be done. No task was too big or two small for her. She owned and managed Mom’s coin laundry in Henderson Kentucky and laundries in Evansville. She also managed all of the rental properties and worked at the various business they opened throughout their lifetime including, “The King of Carpets”, Johnston’s Furniture Store.

She traveled internationally, nationally, and locally by train, boat, car, and her favorite air. She enjoyed flying so much she took lessons to get her private pilots license even completing her solo flight. She took great pride when the air traffic controller drew out the word beau ti fullll on her landing. Many times when we drove by Evansville Regional Airport she would wistfully remember this rare adventure for a women in the early 1960’s and how much she truly loved flying an airplane.

Wanda was very spirited and adventurous she also liked twinkly and sparkling things. Always reflecting that sparkle and twinkle in her stunning blue eyes. She was quick to laugh and did often even on her roughest days. She found the greatest joy in her family especially the babies. She had three events she wanted to happen before she passed, she wanted a great great grandchild, she wanted to see her 90th birthday, and she wanted a red headed grandchild. She saw two of the three and has a great grandchild currently expecting and may get that redhead yet. She felt very blessed by the two she did get.

She also was a woman who served others. She made bean soup for Bible Center’s Fall Festival booth, worked in Sunday School, and cooked at Church Camp for many years. She also provided for and helped many without any acknowledgement at all. Wanda was truly a woman of God who walked out her faith in visible, tangible ways, as a witness to all who came into contact with her.

When she moved to Timber Pines in Spring Hill she felt like she was in heaven on earth. Often she would say the greatest gift your dad ever gave me was moving here. She played euchre, maj jong, marbles, bingo, and other activities. Many of her friends called her a card shark, she really had a knack for it and would come home and count her winnings, usually a couple of dollars and it tickled her. One of the highlights of her life here was the pool. She loved the pool. She loved water of any type and especially loved fishing on their boats The Sea Jay and Big Mama down in the Florida Keys. She loved to cook her fresh catch and invited anyone to come down and stay with them and enjoy their good fortune of wintering in the Keys. It would be difficult to count how many people took her up on this offer and she thrived with company.

She loved to sparkle and shine, the more the better. She was know for her inner and her outer sparkle and shine and there will never be another Edna Wandalee.