Phyllis Johnson

Phyllis Ann Hager Johnson was born April 6, 1933, in Charleston, West Virginia. She died August 31, 2026. The daughter of Harrison Heisley “Hike” Hager and Kathryn Peyton Hager, she grew up in Charleston surrounded by a close extended family, relationships she valued throughout her life.

Growing up, Phyllis was a Girl Scout and attended Camp Ann Bailey near Caldwell, West Virginia, where she developed a love of nature. She later attended Davis & Elkins College, studying religious education, becoming involved in theater, and appearing in several plays. Her interest in theater, music, books, and the arts continued throughout her life.

Phyllis married David Johnson on August 29, 1953. Their marriage was a partnership centered around family. They began their life together in Elkins and Morgantown, West Virginia, where she supported her husband Dave as he studied engineering at WVU. They later lived in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Laurel, Delaware; Wilmington, North Carolina; and Newark, Delaware. Together they raised three children, Dave, Ann, and Tom.

Family remained at the center of Phyllis’ life. Her children’s friends were welcomed into the house and around the dinner table, and she welcomed the musicians, artists, and assorted characters who became part of their lives. One of Tom’s friends later described her as “one of the coolest moms I’ve ever met.” She also remained closely connected to cousins, nieces, nephews, and other extended family members.

When her son Dave’s daughter, Michele, was born, Phyllis and David were overjoyed to become grandparents and took an active part in her life. Michele remained an important part of Phyllis’ world as she grew up, and that connection continued into the next generation with her great-grandchildren.

Phyllis was a persistent optimist, easily delighted by the natural world and everyday life. She took particular pleasure in the animals that appeared in the backyard — birds, cats, squirrels, and the groundhog family living under the shed.

Her love of the natural world extended into family vacations. Trips included camping at Pipestem and Lost River in West Virginia and along the North Carolina coast, especially Cape Hatteras and Nags Head. West Virginia remained especially close to her heart, and even when admiring landscapes elsewhere, she often found something that reminded her of home. She remained an avid walker into her late eighties and enjoyed being out in her neighborhood and talking with people.

Phyllis was an enthusiastic reader with eclectic tastes, from Ursula K. Le Guin to Nicholas Sparks and remained open to recommendations from her children. Her musical tastes were similarly broad, ranging from Tommy Dorsey and Dave Brubeck to Don McLean, Leonard Cohen, Neil Diamond, Trisha Yearwood, The Beatles, and The Carpenters. She also loved musicals, including The Sound of Music, South Pacific, Fiddler on the Roof, West Side Story, and Les Misérables. She was also an avid listener of WVUD 91.3 FM and remained curious about music throughout her life.

Following her son’s suggestion, she went with her husband, Dave, to see Elliott Smith at Philadelphia’s Trocadero Theatre, later joking that they seemed to be the oldest people in the audience.

Although family occupied much of her adult life, Phyllis also worked at Limestone Hills Preschool, taught swimming at the YMCA, volunteered at the Helen F. Graham Breast Center, and worked at United Campus Ministries in Newark, an organization involved in peace and social-justice work. She also supported her husband Dave through health problems later in his life.

In the years that followed, Phyllis remained closely connected to her family and was an important presence in Michele’s life and in the lives of her great-grandchildren.

Phyllis remained curious about people and the world around her throughout her life. She found enjoyment in the ordinary and brought an openness and optimism to the people and places she encountered.

She is survived by her sister, Jean Orders; her children, Dave Johnson, Ann Johnson, and Tom Johnson; her granddaughter, Michele Johnson and her husband, Chris Hood, of Bear, Delaware; her great-grandchildren, Skylar and Zachery; and a large extended family. She was preceded in death by her husband, David Johnson.

A celebration of Phyllis’ life will be held Sunday, September 20, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at General W. W. Atterbury VFW Post 3420, 649 Churchmans Road, Newark, Delaware 19702.