Betsy A. Bender Johnson Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Betsy Anne “Bets” Bender Johnson of Annapolis, MD, died peacefully at her home on August 8, 2018, surrounded by family and her beloved dogs. Bets, 52, had been battling metastatic breast cancer for nearly a year. Born April 14, 1966, Bets was the daughter of Paul D. and Anne T. Bender of State College, PA. She is survived by her father, Paul D. Bender, two sisters, Meg Bender, Bethesda, MD and Jennifer Bender Kaminski (Michael) of Mt. Laurel, NJ, three nieces, Jessica Kaminski and Ericka Kaminski of Mt. Laurel, NJ and Sarah Miller of Bethesda, MD. She was predeceased by her mother, Anne T. Bender in May 2017. Bets was a creative free spirit who loved life and lived it on her own terms. She was a talented artist, a loving daughter, sister, sister-in-law, cousin, niece, and a devoted aunt. She graduated from The Pennsylvania State University with a degree in Elementary Education. During the summers of 1986-1989, Bets worked at the Silver Bay YMCA on Lake George in New York. This experience strengthened her love of both God and nature and she established friendships there that lasted her a lifetime. She also met her former husband, Christopher B. Johnson, of New York there. In addition to teaching various grade levels of elementary school, Bets designed jewelry and had her own greeting card line. The cards were made from her original watercolors, many of which had an Americana/folk art style. She loved to draw, paint, work in her garden, kayak, walk the beach, and spend time with family, friends and her dogs. Bets’ life was greatly enriched by the support she received from the caring women and close friends in her Tuesday Morning Bible Study in Annapolis. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to The Central PA Festival of the Arts; PO Box 1023 State College, PA 16804 or The Silver Bay YMCA, 87 Silver Bay Rd. Silver Bay, NY 12874 or Please write “Betsy Bender Johnson” in the memo line of the check. A memorial service will be held to celebrate Bets’ life on Saturday, November 17th, 2018 at 11:00 am at the State College Presbyterian Church, State College, PA. Visitation with the family will be held from 9:30-10:45 am at the church that morning.

Betsy A. Bender Johnson

April 14, 1966 - August 8, 2018