Anita Helen Johnston Dahlgren was born in Ingersoll Township, Midland, Michigan on August 6, 1922 to parents Donald R. and Katheryn Moore Johnston. At age 7 she moved with her family to Bay City, Michigan where she attended Bay City public schools and graduated from high school at age 15. She graduated from Bay City Junior College and attended Michigan State College (now University). After college (at the beginning of WWII), she was hired as a secretary by the Defoe Shipbuilding Co., which had Navy contracts to build submarine chasers and minesweepers. In October 1943, she was hired as a stewardess by American Airlines. During her years there, she flew, taught stewardess training school, became a chief stewardess in 1948, and a procurement interviewers for stewardess applicants. While stationed in Detroit, in 1948 she met Jack Dahlgren of OKC, who was a passenger on one of her flights and was working in Detroit. A friendship developed and they were married on September 29, 1950. A year later, he was transferred back to Oklahoma City. There, they established a permanent residence. She and Jack were life-long members of the Nichols Hills United Methodist Church. Together, they were major supporters of World Neighbors, the OKC Community Foundation, Peppers Ranch, and the OKC Art Museum. Active in the community, she was a member of the Junior Hospitality Club, the Kiwi Club (former American Airline stewardesses) and the Oklahoma Art Center (now OKC Art Museum) where she served as President of the Women’s Volunteer Committee. She took an active role in her children’s schools and PTA, was a Cub Scout Den Mother and a Brownie and Girl Scout Leader. As a board member of Omniplex Science Museum, she recognized the need for an energy exhibit, where she initiated and chaired fundraising and supervised the installation of the Energy Quest Exhibit at Omniplex. She and Jack played golf all over the world together on their many People-to-People golf trips. At home, Anita enjoyed Mah Jongg, Dig and Hope Garden Club, and Preface Book Club. She was always generous with her time and resources. Most of all, she was a loving and caring wife, mother, and grandmother. She will be deeply missed by her family and her friends.
She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 64 years, Jack, her parents, sisters Virginia Johnston and Clara (and Dave) Ott, and brother Dwight (and Myrtle) Johnston. She is survived by her daughter Ashley D. Parrish and son Duane C. Dahlgren and wife Tracy. Grandchildren are Lynne Parrish Baer and husband Rob, Scott T. Parrish and wife Jess, and Kristin K. Dahlgren; great grandchildren Brooke Elizabeth Baer, and Ivy Ann Baer, and Astrid Daisy Parrish; along with nieces Kathe Wright, Ginnie Eliot, Marianne Ott, Nancy Schmidt, and Dana Croom; and nephews Rick and David Ott, Chuck, John, Roger, and Don Dahlgren. Funeral Services for Anita are scheduled for 2:00 p.m., Thursday, February 10, 2022 at Nichols Hills United Methodist Church with burial to follow at Memorial Park Cemetery. The family would like to invite everyone to join them for a brief reception following the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, remembrances can be made to the Nichols Hills United Methodist Church (1212 Bedford Road, OKC, OK 73116), or to Peppers Ranch (3200 S. Western Ave, Guthrie, OK 73044) or to a charity of your choosing.
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