Loretta F. Johnson
Loretta Franks was the youngest of three girls born to Annette and Clarence Franks. Clarence owned the town pharmacy which had a soda fountain where Mom spent many days. Loretta's father died suddenly when she was only 12 and her mother had to sell the pharmacy. She and Loretta moved to Emporia Kansas to live with Annette's parents. During the Depression Mom's sisters helped support Annette. However, it was Esther who paid for Loretta to go to Ottawa State Teacher's College. While studying for her Master's and working as a Reference Librarian at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana Loretta met her husband Robert Kellogg Johnson. Loretta and Bob were married in Champaign-Urbana on August 22, 1950. They had four children Emily Louise (born December 1951) Peter Franks (April 1954) Sarah Elizabeth (July 1956) and Robert Kellogg Jr. (March 1959). Emily died of leukemia in January 1956 and Loretta never really recovered from the loss. After her youngest began high school Loretta went to work as a substitute librarian for the Tucson School District. She got her teaching certificate and became librarian at Keen Elementary. Loretta loved her work and enjoyed helping children discover reading. Dad was Director of Libraries at the University of Arizona from 1964-1976. As a result, Mom and Dad were active in university circles including Foreign Foods the Chamber Music Series and the dramatic arts series. They also had season tickets to the Tucson Symphony Orchestra Arizona Theatre Company and the Arizona Opera. Mom also belonged to a book group until she died.