Martha Oleane Johnson

Martha Oleane Johnson, true and faithful servant of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, worth far more than rubies, was born on August 8, 1929 in Arab, Alabama to Osborn James and Dollie Mae Lynch. The family joined the migration west (Gone To Texas), and settled in Cowtown. With her mother’s untimely passing, Oleane helped to raise younger siblings, Alice and Jack, but did find time to graduate from Birdville High School, and work at Martha Washington Candies in downtown Fort Worth. She met a young veteran, Warren Johnson, and they determined to marry, though temporarily thwarted by his being drafted a second time. They finally married on April 24, 1951, and moved to Snyder, Texas. Returning to the Metroplex, they lived on Bennett Dr. in Arlington, next to Second Baptist Church, where a fellow member suggested Warren apply for a union job at American Can Company. With their newborn, Carl, they moved to a larger house at 1418 Randolph and lived there for 65 years. Here they hosted many joyous Christmas gatherings, the kitchen overseen by Oleane and her sister, Earline, the kids playing with their new toys, the men adjusting their belts and slipping off for a nap.

She attended Arlington State College, and worked for the aircraft manufacturer, Menasco, but was soon able to assume her ordained role of full-time homemaker and mother, Kurt joining the family in 1960 and Keith after a scant 16 months. In later years, she worked routing phone calls for the department store, Montgomery Wards. She visited the ill and elderly, ferried ladies to and from church, taught Sunday School, fed grandkids and cheered them on at their ballgames…Warren called her “Oley” and well into their nineties they’d walk the neighborhood together, just as they’ll soon stroll together the streets of gold.

Oleane is preceded in glory by her parents, and siblings Van, Leo, Bill, Earline, Alice and Jack, and survived by Warren, sons Carl, Kurt and wife Julie, and Keith and wife JoLynn. Grandchildren include Chad and wife Sadie, Matt and wife Brittany, Kaylan Branson and husband Kyle, Miles and Sierra Sullivan, Abby, and Autry. Her great-grandchildren are Marlie, Lecil, Charlotte, Hallie, Hayes, Raylan, and Rawley.