Time For Memory

Vaunda L. Johnson at the age of 77 when to her heavenly home on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2005 at her home in Kerrville, Texas. Until that time, she was cared for by her husband, Lt. Col. Rufus Johnson and her dauughter Yvonne Smith. She was born on Sept. 28, 1928 in Mason, Texas to Hugh Griffith and Ida Mae Watenbach Griffith. Her parents moved from Mason to California when Vaunda was 14 years old. Later in life she had a great desire to return to Mason where her roots were. In March of 1995, she and Rufus did just that. They lived in Mason until they moved to Kerrville to be nearer to the medical facilities. Vaunda began work in the law firm of Rufus Johnson in 1963. Later, they began dating and were married in 1971. Vaunda's ancestry holds some very unique expeeriences. Her faamily suffered through the Great Depression as many others. Many stories were told of those days. Her grandmother, Anna Metzger, as a young girl was captured by Indians and was eyewitness to the murder of her little sister, Emma. Anna was held captive for nine months. Later she married Charles Wartenbach. Vaunda, with her special grin, would tell you her mother was a "jail bird". You see, her mother, Ida Mae Wartenbach, lived with her parents, Fritz and Bertha Wartenbach in the living facilities situated in the Mason County Jail while her father Fritz served as constable in 1918. Another curious thing happened when she and Rufus purchased their home in Mason. They were having tthe house checked out for flaws. The people were checking in the attic when they found a rifter signed by Vaunda's uncle, Louis Wartenbach. Of course, they bought the house. Vaunda was a published writer and had a great love for the written word. While living in California, she attended a writer's group with several published writers. One of those was George Frytag. After she and Rufus moved to Arkansas, she quickly identified herself with another strong writing group where she made lifelong friends. After the move to Mason, she organized a writer's group that met in her home. Through her efforts, Mason County Writers began, In 2004, they published the Mason County Perspectives. Her descriptive language in writing was so vivid the reader would quickly turn the page in expectation of the next sentence. Vaunda is survived by her husband Lt. Col. Rufus Johnson of Kerrville, Texas; 5 children; Jack Warren and Rodney Warren of Brooking, Oregon, Michele Vanderwerf of Maderia, CA., Karen McConnel of Grand Pass, Oregon, Yvonne Smith of Kerrville, Texas; 11 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, 2 brothers; Hugh (Bud) Griffith of Duncan, AZ., and Vic Griffith of Greenville, CA., 2 sisters; Lillian Griffith of Mariposa, CA., and Betty Griffith of Watsonville, CA., and many other family members and friends who love her and will miss her. Celebration of Life service will be in Mason, Texas at the Mason Gospel Church on Nov. 14, 2005 at 10:30am. Later, the scattering of the ashes will be done in private.