Alma Joan (Johnson) Templeton

On December 14, 2018, Alma Joan Johnson Templeton passed away at home in Kinston surrounded by family.  She was born on July 16, 1931 to the late Clay and Aubrey Johnson of Union Grove, NC.  Alma graduated from Union Grove High School and went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Home Economics at Women’s College in Greensboro, later to become UNC Greensboro.  Soon after, she married “the man of her dreams,” Lynn Madison Templeton, on July 21, 1951.  The couple resided in Charlotte for the following 35 years.  There, they lovingly raised their two daughters, Joan and Gina, while Alma was a substitute teacher and active member of Westminster Presbyterian Church.  The couple retired to Morehead City in 1990 where Alma and Lynn became involved at First Presbyterian Church.  Alma loved mornings in her ladies’ Bible study, service days with a local ministry to disabled adults and shelling expeditions with the Morehead City “Shell Bells.”  What brought her most joy however was spending time with her daughters’ families and her 7 grandsons.  Some of her grandsons’ fondest memories include “floating” with her out to the Morehead sand bar in her purple polka-dotted raft, going on shelling adventures to “secret” sites and daily walks with her poodles Lucy and Sally.

Upon the death of her husband on August 23, 2008, Alma moved to Kinston to live with her daughter Joan, son-in-law Jimbo and their 5 sons.  She wasted no time in making many good friends in the Lenoir Memorial Hospital rehab program and at Grace Fellowship Church where she was known for her bright smile and contagious laughter.  In her Kinston home, she became an encourager of the many young adults who lived with the family over the years.  During the last years of her life, she particularly enjoyed the Monday Night Men’s Bible Study group with whom she sang, prayed and shared scripture. They were a particular strength to her during her last days.

Alma is survived by her 2 daughters, 7 grandsons and 9 great-grandchildren:  Dr. Joan Templeton Perry and husband Jimbo—Madison and wife Pamela (children Brynn, Hap, Turner and Cal), Stockton and wife Page (children Allie, Emily, James and Anna Claire), Stephen and wife Annalise, Nathan and wife Summer (Pippa) and Jackson; Gina Templeton Gerken and husband Dan—Max and Adam. 

Her family is grateful to her invaluable caregivers including Bobbie Jo Cope, Crystal Sandoval and multiple others who served her so well.

A service of celebration of life will be held on December 28, 2018 at 10:00 AM at Grace Fellowship Church, 327 Academy Heights Rd, Kinston, NC with visitation immediately following.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that Alma be remembered by memorials to the North Carolina Study Center (ncstudycenter.org) or Grace Fellowship Church.