Age 98, Luray, Va.
Dorothy Frances Johnson Price, 98, of Luray, passed away on Sunday, April 28, 2024.
Born August 1, 1925, Dorothy Frances was the daughter of Jesse and Hester Johnson of Luray, Va. The last survivor of her nine siblings, Dorothy was known for her fun-loving personality and outgoing ways. She was born in the middle of her siblings, Cletus, John Henry, Florence, Cornelius, Betty, James, Phillip and Jestine (Peggy).
Dorothy grew up on a farm in Luray and like her brothers, left to help with the war effort. She and her sister, Betty, were “Rosie the Riveters,” who packed 33 mm ammunition shells with “TNT” in Aberdeen, MD, during World War II.
After the war, Dorothy married and was later divorced from Michael R. Russell. She settled with her daughter in the Philadelphia area, where she met John W. “Ted” Price on a blind date. They went to a cabaret and married within months. A single dad and fabulous cook, Teddy added Dorothy and Delnora to the household he shared with his son, John W. Price III, and formally adopted Delnora.
Starting anew, Dorothy relocated to South Jersey, attended Nursing School, learned how to drive, worked at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Camden, NJ, and later became a home nurse aide in Berlin, New Jersey, and a “nanny” to a host of families in the South Jersey area. She was active with Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Magnolia, N.J. and later at St. John’s Baptist in Luray, VA.
Dorothy traveled widely with Teddy, first in a camper throughout the United States and later aboard ships on many Mediterranean cruises, as well as cruises to the Caribbean, Alaska and Hawaii. Dorothy said they would be roaming streets in far off places and she would have no clue as to where they were, but that Teddy always did “and could speak the language too.” His “street” Spanish from growing up in San Diego apparently served them well in Mexico, Portugal, Spain and Italy.
After giving up their life of growing chickens, rabbits and vegetables in South Jersey, Dorothy and Teddy retired to Virginia to reside in the house she was born in and lived next door to her youngest sister, Peggy.
Illness later forced Teddy into nearby convalescent homes and ultimately they both relocated to Baltimore, MD. Teddy died in 2006; later Dorothy joined her daughter living in Northern California for several years. Dorothy returned to the Baltimore area to be closer to great-granddaughter Ariyah.
Throughout her retirement, Dorothy continued to participate actively in adult day programs in her neighborhoods, including Berkeley, CA, Keswick in Baltimore and the Senior Center in Luray, VA. She was always the first to volunteer to dance and is known to wear out more than one partner in an evening. She was also known for her colorful caps.
She is survived by her daughter, Delnora; three granddaughters, Kelly Dobbins, Teresa Kearse and Jessie Kearse; and one great-granddaughter, Ariyah Michele Stevens.
A funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 1, at the Bradley Funeral Home by Pastor Liz Emery, with visitation one hour prior to the service, from 10 to 11 a.m. Burial will be in the Cyrus-Veney Family Cemetery in Luray.
The kindest expression of love you could provide the family would be through supporting your local adult day program in her memory, as these proved to be so much a source of joy and inspiration to Dorothy in her last years. Your messages of support and encouragement are much appreciated.
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