LA FERIA, TX. - Mrs. Ruth Rabe Johnson
70, resident and retired school principal of La Feria, went to walk with Jesus on March 27, 2009.
Born in Edinburg on December 14, 1938, she was raised in La Blanca by Walter and Effie Rabe. She met future husband, Jerry Dale Johnson, when he was her school bus driver. She selflessly loved him for over 51 years. This perfect union resulted in 4 children, 17 grandchildren, and 5 great grandchildren. She believed that this marriage was God's will and that He had a plan for their life together. They reared their family with the two simple commandments of Jesus: "Love the Lord God with all of your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength, and Love your neighbor as yourself." With her family she modeled these words by loving unconditionally and taught them the importance of family unity and fun. The family motto was " as long as we're together." She also demonstrated Christ's love as a school principle. Every day she wore a lapel pin that said, "Children First" which her staff and students never doubted. This faith was also lived out through her local Christian community, First Baptist Church La Feria, where she served as a Bible teacher and mentor.
Ten years ago she was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Laterial Sclerosis, ALS, also known as Lou Gehrigs Disease. Though eventually she became a quadriplegic as result, she remained active and stayed an encourager for everyone around her. She was an energetic representative for MDA, appearing on several telethons and in various news publications in hopes of raising awareness. Her dream of finding a cure led her to donate her body to an Als research center.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you make donations in her honor to the: ALS Division, MDA, 3300 E. Sunrise Drive, Tucson, AZ 85718 or FBC La Feria, PO Box 27, La Feria, TX 78559.
Memorial service to be held at First Baptist Church, La Feria on Monday, March 30th at 5:00 PM.
Sign the guestbook at: http://legacy.com/ValleyStar/Obituaries.asp.
