Dorothy Mae Johns

Dorothy Hippach Johns, of Loma Linda, was born in Los Angeles to Roscoe and Mildred Hippach in 1925. She passed away November 11, 2015 after a brief illness. She would have been 91 in February. As a girl, she took voice lessons and was a much sought-after singer at many events during high school and college. She graduated from Lynwood Academy, and took prenursing at La Sierra College before she contracted polio, which derailed her plans to become a nurse. It also sidelined her singing. Dorothy was married to the love of her life, Varner J. Johns, Jr., M.D. for 58 years before he predeceased her in 2003. She was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. She was a person who lived her life helping others. To know her was to love her. She touched the lives of everyone she met; and in her quiet, unassuming way, she made the world a better place. She was always involved in her children's school activities, as well as church activities. She was a member of the Loma Linda University Church for more than 50 years. Dorothy was a talented artist. After her children were grown, she took art lessons and learned oil painting, and then pastel portraiture. She was a member of the Loma Linda Cultural Arts Association for many years. Her art work hangs in the homes of many of her family and friends. She enjoyed spending time with her family, and over the years, loved attending events where her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren performed. Dorothy leaves three children; Marcia Johns Hinshaw (David), Donna Johns Bennett (Don), and Varner Jay Johns, III (Cathy); six grandchildren; Amy Hinshaw Walker, Jonathan Hinshaw (Yolanda), Catherine Bennett Owens (John), John Peter Bennett, Kimberly Johns, and Matthew Johns; and four great-grandchildren; Madeleine Owens, Samuel Owens, Aubrey Hinshaw, and Marcus Hinshaw; a sister; Ruth Hippach Parrett Knight, and a brother, Bill Hippach. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to her favorite charities: Tropical Alliance Health Foundation (thaf.org), whose founder is a dear friend who does projects in Ethiopia; and Loma Linda Broadcasting Network (llbn.tv).