Loretta Frances (Ritchie) Johnson

Loretta was born April 11, 1938 to Mary Elizabeth Swain Ritchie and Bonnie Byron Ritchie in Pomona, California. She was raised in Ontario, California, along with her late brother Bob Byron Ritchie, and graduated Chaffey Union High School in 1956. Loretta was always a California girl enjoying the beaches, the mountains and her church youth groups. She had a large extended family in California including many aunts, uncles and cousins with whom she spent a great deal of time in her youth. She unfortunately lost her daddy at 16 and missed him so her entire life. After graduating high school, she attended Graceland College in Lamoni, Iowa where she met her future husband, Richard, along with many lifelong friends.

After leaving Graceland, she moved to Independence, Missouri where she and Richard married in 1960 and were blessed with 3 sons, Ken, Ron and Don. In 1967, they moved to Des Moines, Iowa with Richard’s job where she taught preschool in their home and was active with the church and enjoyed participating in the Christmas pageants. The family moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1974 and had a close relationship with their church family where Loretta loved to sing in the choir, was a gifted soloist for church services, and taught children’s Sunday school. She was a loving and happy mother, who was always involved with her boys whom she loved dearly. She enjoyed taking them to the neighborhood swimming pool in the summertime, she was their Den mother for cub scouts, she helped with many paper routes and lawns the boys mowed and countless paperdrives at the schools. For several years to help support the family, she worked in the cafeteria at a junior high because she loved to be surrounded by children.

Loretta and Richard moved to Houston in 1985 with his job; this was a blessing for her with her mother and brother living here. Loretta was thrilled to be with them, having been so far away for so long. She was thankful to now have the time to be with them, to laugh and joke and to be a help to them. She felt at home again with her California family ties, and especially loved the silly times with her younger brother Bob “the character.” She was also glad when her son Ron moved to Houston after college; he married Erin in 1991, and they gave Loretta and Richard a “thank you wedding gift” of a golden retriever puppy, named Dusty, who became the love of their life, at least until grandkids. Every year for Dusty’s birthday, Loretta and Richard had a party in their front yard for all the neighborhood kids with Kibbey the clown. There were balloon characters and face painting along with more cookies than any kid needs before going home for dinner! The tradition and party continued every year and through 4 more dogs, but it was always Dusty’s birthday party. The last party for Dusty was in October 2019 with their beloved yellow lab “Max” doing the honors.

Loretta kept herself busy with the neighborhood children, always willing to read and play games, or just lend a listening ear. After Richard retired, they spent as much time as they could with their family, especially their grandchildren. Ron and Erin had blessed them with Brent and Shannon. Loretta stayed at the hospital until nearly 3:00 am just to see these incredible gifts from God, first a grandson, and then the first baby girl in the family. Loretta loved to play games, read books and bake cookies with her babies, and they loved spending time with “Grammie,” as Brent and Shannon so affectionately called her. She and Richard were present at their numerous games and events, always cheering on their precious grandkids. They loved to travel to Tulsa, Oklahoma to visit Ken and Don and their families, as well as Independence, Missouri to visit extended family. Branson, Missouri was a favorite vacation for them, and their trip of a lifetime was an Alaskan cruise.

For many years, they spent most weekends traveling to Livingston, Texas with friends where they were building a church. You could always count on Loretta to sing a solo, and if not, you knew she was in the room during a hymn! When traveling became more challenging for her, Loretta and Richard began attending the Community of Christ Church near their home and on occasion made the trip back to Livingston to visit their church family when they could.

For many years Loretta had numerous health problems, making it difficult for her to get around. In the last few years of her life, she was not as mobile as she wished, but she made every effort to be at church and be around her family and grandchildren. Regardless of any ailment she had, Loretta had a spark for life and for Jesus. If she was in the room, you knew it. She loved everyone no matter who you were or where you were from. She was the person who always welcomed the stranger, and looked beyond the exterior of a person and loved them upon meeting them. She was truly someone who showed the meaning of unconditional love to all!

Loretta Frances Ritchie Johnson served her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ every day of her life. She was a wife, a mom, a sister, a daughter, a grandmother, a great grandmother, a mother-in-law, and a cousin to so many, as well as a sister from-another-mother to all she met. Thank you mom for all you did and the joy you brought to everyone’s life! We love you and will see you again one day!

Loretta is preceded in death by her father Bonnie Byron Ritchie; mother Mary Elzabeth Swain Ricthie; brother Bob Byron Ritchie.

Loretta is survived by her husband of 60 years Richard Johnson; son Kenneth Johnson and wife Toni of Tulsa, Oklahoma with daughter Sarah and husband Jake Powell and children Jaxon and Sadie; son Ronald Johnson and wife Erin of Houston, Texas with children Brent and Shannon Johnson; and son Donald Johnson and wife Shirley of Tulsa, Oklahoma with daughter Serena Johnson; Grandchildren: Alexander Scott Butler and wife Victoria Leigh; Great grandchildren: Xanthus Butler, Nyx Butler, Nouva Butler, Cytnia Butler, Alaric Butler.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in memory of Loretta to Houston Hospice or your favorite charity.

The family extends deep gratitude to Loretta’s care givers Dora and Roman Cantu for their selfless care of and unending concern and love for Loretta during this difficult time. We also would like to express our thanks to Houston Hospice as well as Loretta’s doctors and nurses at Methodist Hospital Willowbrook.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.AmericanHeritageFuneralHome.com for the Johnson family.