The
David O. and Sara F. Johnson Family Education Fund was established in 2004 as a tribute
to two loving, caring people who were wonderful parents and grandparents,
hardworking and upstanding citizens, and constant contributors to the betterment
of their community. The fund will provide educational scholarships to
deserving graduating seniors of McGuffey High School.
David O. Johnson was born March 25, 1923, in Bristoria, Greene County, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Richhill High School in 1941. He enlisted in the U.S. Army during World War II and served twenty-seven months in the European Theatre of Operations with the 479th Ordnance Evacuation Company, achieving a rank of Technician, Fifth Grade.
Sara Lee Fordyce was born on September 4, 1924, in Claysville, Washington County, Pennsylvania, and was also a graduate of Richhill High School in the Class of 1942 and of Waynesburg College in 1944.
Soon after their marriage in 1946, they moved to Buffalo Township, Washington County, where they lived for the remainder of their lives and developed many strong ties to the McGuffey community. Over the years they also made many lasting friendships which they treasured.
Dave worked as a special representative for Coen Oil Company for twenty-nine years. He served on the McGuffey School Board for seventeen years and also served as president of the Western Area Vo-Tech School Board for a term. He was an ardent supporter of quality education and athletic achievement.
Sara (Lee) worked as secretary to elementary principals Robert Haberlen and John McCullough over a period of twenty-five years, retiring in 1985. She was the much-loved “Mrs. Johnson” to scores of children who passed through Claysville and Joe Walker Elementary Schools. Her other interests included being a member and officer in both National Pike Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, and Three Rivers Chapter, Colonial Dames of the Seventeenth Century, and being a member of Martha V. Paul Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, and of the Pennsylvania School Employees Retirement System.
Both Dave and Lee were also active members of the Claysville United Presbyterian Church. Dave also served on the Buffalo Township Zoning Hearing Board. In addition, they volunteered for many school-related functions from PTA to athletic boosters and loyally attended their children’s activities.
They raised three children who are all McGuffey graduates: Nancy (Mrs. Ray Racunas) in the Class of 1967; David L. in the Class of 1971; and Richard D. in the Class of 1972. Education was a top priority in their home, and they worked hard to see that all three children received college educations.
Their son David married another McGuffey graduate, Colleen McAnallen, 1970, and their daughters are also McGuffey alumnae: Jennifer, 1990, Chrissy, 1993, whose husband Jason Myers was in the McGuffey Class of 1994; and Stacy, 1996. All three girls are college graduates, as well. In addition, David served on the McGuffey School Board for ten years.
With all six of their grandchildren, including Richard’s children Adam (21) and Lauren (18), who are both students at East Carolina University, and Seth (16) of Raleigh, North Carolina, Dave and Lee constantly encouraged and rewarded academic achievement.
Acquiring an education was an important goal to Dave and Lee. Their own education plans had been altered by the circumstances of a world war, but they did all they could so that their children and grandchildren could obtain the best possible education. So, it seems fitting that their names will live on through the annual presentation of a scholarship to a McGuffey student, thereby continuing their encouragement and support of the value of education.