Beth Joanne (Rice) Johnson (1927 - 2016)

Born 17 Sep 1927 in Ponca City, Kay, Oklahoma, United States

Ancestors

Died 2 Feb 2016 at age 88 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Jody Rodgers [send private message]

Biography

"Beth Joanne “Jody” Rice was born in Ponca City, Oklahoma, on Sept. 17, 1927, to Wayne Paul Rice, an oilman, and Beth Handley Rice, an educator. She joined her older brother, Jack Handley Rice. Jody was fortunate to have had two adoring fathers, the second in 1953 when Jess Wilbanks, a wildcatter, married her mother.

Wayne Rice and family moved to Big Spring, Texas, in 1928, leaving the Marland Oil Co. to run Cosden Oil Co. and Refinery where he introduced the method of cracking to crude oil. At age seven in 1935, Jody’s father died. The family stayed in Big Spring, moved into the renowned Settles Hotel where Jody attended Big Spring High School, graduating in 1944 at age 16. She was elected class favorite several years, cheerleader and gave a graduation speech titled “The Melting Pot of America.”

Jody enrolled at the University of Texas (Hook’em Horns) where she joined the Chi Omega Sorority and majored in drama. She was elected a U.T. Sweetheart, a U.T. Bluebonnet Belle and was known as a West Texas Beauty. Her brother, Capt. Jack Rice, a pilot, joined her at U.T., after flying missions over Germany in World War II.

After college, Jody spent a year in New York City. She loved theatre and attended numerous plays, several per week. She worked part time as a model, but realized she was too busy to have a full-time job. While there she was invited to June Week at both West Point (Army) and Annapolis (Navy) the same year. She said she was a party girl who didn’t drink, smoke or neck.

In 1951, Jody married Capt. Jules O. Johnson twice. The first time was on Sept. 16, eloping to Ciudad Acuna, Mexico, while on a date. One month later on Oct. 16, a church wedding ceremony was performed in San Angelo, Texas. Jody moved to Moody A.F.B., Valdosta, Georgia, where Capt. Johnson was stationed. She was elected President of the Officer’s Wives Club, beating the colonel’s wife’s candidate.

Capt. Johnson was transferred shortly afterwards to March A.F.B., Riverside, California, and then to McCord A.F.B., Tacoma, Washington, in 1960. There, Jody had a radio show at noon on Fridays, reporting the social events of the base for that weekend. At times, you could hear children playing in the background. Lt. Col. Johnson’s squadron, Strategic Air Command, 5th Bomb Wing, was transferred to Travis A.F.B. in 1962. That year, the family celebrated Thanksgiving and Christmas in the bunkers on Travis. Lt. Col. Johnson flew the K.C. 135 Refueling Aircraft and was on alert on those holidays due to the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Jody’s husband retired from the military in 1965 and was hired by Pan American Airways. The family moved to Green Valley in 1966 and joined Green Valley Country Club the same year. In 1971, the family flew around the world, first class, starting in San Francisco then onto Tokyo, Bangkok, Beirut, Istanbul and London.

In 1972, Jody opened her first sporting good store, Sports Corner, in Fairfield. Lee O’dell was the general manager. Sports Corner expanded to stores in Vallejo, Napa and Pinole. In 1980, an independent store was opened, Sports Stop, in Lakeport at Clear Lake. Jody was also involved in the West Texas oil business and always knew the price of oil and where markets closed.

Jody belonged to many organizations and clubs and held many offices. They included the Valley Ladies Investment Club, Open Book Club, D.A.R., Colonial Dames, Napa-Solano Panhellenic, Twin City Steppers Square Dance Club and many more. She was on the Advisory Board of the National Sporting Goods Association. She was one of a few women in the 1970s who held a Firearms License. Jody was a member of the Green Valley Country Club for 50 years and in 1974, was president of the Women’s Division. She also was an active member of Grace Episcopal Church.

Jody walked on the Great Wall of China, rode a camel in Australia and horses in Texas, was on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange in 1980 with her daughter, lunched with the Speaker of the House, Sam Rayburn, in 1941 in Washington, D.C., and was invited on the Royal Yacht Britannia. She went to Super Bowls, World Series, the Masters Golf Tournament and enjoyed at least 28 cruises, including one on the QE II. She flew with her husband in his Cesna 210 before he died in 1994. She looked forward to being escorted to the theatre and the symphony and enjoyed ballroom dancing. She spent her summers in New Mexico, at the family cabin entertaining friends. Jody spent countless hours rooting for her two sons in sporting activities, especially baseball, always being the team mother.

Jody passed away on Feb. 2, 2016, in Chicago after a gallant fight with illnesses. Her devoted son-in-law was with her. Jody was in and out of Northwestern Memorial Hospital in 2015. She was laid to rest in Big Spring, Texas, at Trinity Memorial Park in February.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016, at Grace Episcopal Church, 1405 Kentucky St., Fairfield, California."^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ Published in Fairfield Daily Republic on August 21, 2016.