Katie Ilena Gobbel Johnson, 95, of Columbia, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Friday, November 11, 2022. Born on January 12, 1927, in Lexington, South Carolina, she was a daughter of the late Albert Lee Gobbel and Laura Doney Brown Gobbel.
Katie was the loving wife to Chester Lee Johnson for just a few months shy of 50 years. She took pride in being a grandmother to her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. In her most recent years, she proudly stated they are what kept her going each day.
Katie was a devout Christian and is now with her Lord and Savior. She was a dedicated member of The Salvation Army of The Midlands for 73 years. Her servant's heart led her to serving many years with them as a volunteer. She was a member of their Seniors' Club, Lady's Home League, and Nurse's Mercy League. She volunteered for numerous mission trips to Romania and Bolivia with local churches and friends. Katie had a heart of gold and enjoyed caring for others. She was a licensed practical nurse working 33 years before retiring from the South Carolina State Hospital. She then proceeded to work 11 years before retiring from the Dorn Veterans Hospital. She even worked part-time at Providence Hospital as an additional job to help support her family during her husband's many illnesses. She loved being a nurse.
Survivors include her children, Mary Laura Evans, David Lee Johnson (Patricia); and Betty Pearson (Conrad); 22 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great-grandchildren; siblings, Albert Gobbel (Sandra) and David Gobbel (Mary); as well as many loving nieces, nephews, and cousins. In addition to her husband and parents, she is preceded in death by children, Katie Ruth Johnson Westbrook (Jim) and Martha Johnson Price (Larry); siblings, Magdalene Gobbel Evans, Ruth Gobbel Sanders (Lewis), and Helen Gobbel McLemore (Bobby).
The funeral service for Mrs. Johnson will be held at 2 o'clock Monday afternoon, November 14th, at The Salvation Army of The Midlands, 3024 Farrow Rd, Columbia, SC. Burial to follow at Beulah Methodist Church Cemetery, 161 Beulah Church Rd, Gilbert, SC. The family will receive friends Sunday evening from 4 until 6 o'clock at Shives Funeral Home, Colonial Drive Chapel, 5202 Colonial Drive, Columbia, SC.