Betty deBeck Johnson, 92, of Oak Island, N.C. passed away peacefully at home in the company of her children on May 21st, 2012. Betty was born in East Orange, New Jersey on November 19th, 1919 the only daughter of the late Ethel Rake Chase and George Lawrence Christian Archibald vonBeck.

Betty B. graduated with honors from Bucknell University in 1939. She married the late James Floyd Johnson of North Wilkesboro, NC in 1940 and raised 5 children in Winston-Salem, N.C. while pursuing her career with Western Electric as an Editor and Engineering Associate. She spent time in the field with her job in both Eluthera and Iran. Betty volunteered with Contact Help for a number of years and travelled to Hawaii, the Fiji Islands, New Zealand, and Australia with the organization.

Miss Betty, as she was lovingly known to her Oak Island friends retired from Western Electric in 1978 and moved to Oak Island that same year. She opened the Treasure Room, a Hallmark Gold Crown gift shop in 1979. The Treasure Room was a favorite of Oak Islanders for many years. Betty owned a duplicate bridge club on the Island for a number of years, taught bridge, and played at the Oak Island Senior Center. She played poker with the boys and bingo with the girls several times a week at the Oak Island Moose Lodge and the VFW.

She always said ‘I wasn’t born on Oak Island, but I got her as quickly as I could. This amazing Mom, Mema, Friend, and Mentor will be deeply missed.

Betty is predeceased by her grandson Bobby James of Oak Island. She is survived by her 5 children Eddie Johnson of Las Vegas, NV, Carol Buckwalter (David) of Columbia, SC, Dianne Bradley of Jacksonville, FL, Laura Holzbaur of Winston-Salem, NC, and Chace Johnson of Oak Island; her 7 grand children Tom Johnson of Arcata, CA, Dianne Johnson of Las Vegas, NV, Eric James of Columbia, SC, Christopher Holzbaur of Winston-Salem, NC, Shannon Lindsay of Newberry, SC, Alfie Hipps of Columbia, SC, and Amy Sizemore of Hobe Sound, FL; and her 5 great grandchildren Drew Johnson of Newton, NC, Grace Lindsay of Newberry, SC, Bryson Hipps of Columbia, SC, Bobby, and soon to be Michael Sizemore (due in June) of Hobe Sound, FL.

Please join us for a Celebration of Betty’s Life at 10:00a.m., Saturday morning, June 2nd at the Yaupon Beach Fishing Pier, 705 Ocean Drive, Oak Island, NC; Myron Kessler presiding. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Lower Cape Fear Hospice and Life Care Center of Brunswick County, 1414 Physicians Dr., Wilmington, NC 28401.

Please share memories and condolences with the family by clicking on the "Sign Guest Book" tab above.

Wilmington Funeral & Cremation, 1535 S. 41st Street, Wilmington, NC 28403 910.791.9099