Obituary: Virginia "Gini" Johnston

Virginia “Gini” Johnston (nee Chesley), of Moorestown, NJ, passed away on June 24, 2016, at the age of 82.
Gini was born and raised in Mt. Holly, NJ, by her parents, Hazel and John Chesley, owners of Chesley and Cline Real Estate and Insurance. In the later years, it changed over to Chesley and Alloway.

She was an accomplished musician and pianist who performed for the Philadelphia Orchestra as a guest pianist as a teenager.

Gini was a graduate of Rancocas Valley High School, where she was the lead Drum Majorette for the RV high school band.

She entered Penn State University in 1950, but only completed two years due to the death of her father in 1952. However, over the course of her life she was a dedicated and faithful fan of Penn State football and anything else Penn State related.

After the death of her father, she entered Pierce Business School in Philadelphia, as well as modeling school, and worked as an executive assistant at RCA in Moorestown.

Her late husband Richard graduated from University of Penn (Wharton School), and they met on a blind date and Gini recalled it as love at first sight.

Gini and Dick married in October of 1955, and moved to Reading, PA., for the first two years of their marriage as Dick worked for Aetna Insurance.

Two years later they relocated to Moorestown, where they raised their daughters, Vicki and Tracy. Gini was a homemaker who volunteered for numerous Burlington County and Moorestown School organizations. Gini lived in the home in Moorestown for 57 years and loved her neighborhood and especially her kind and loving neighbors.

She was known in the community for serving as a medical secretary for many of the local physicians. As a result, she couldn’t go to the grocery store without stopping to talk with one of the patients.

Gini will be remembered as someone who was funny, likable ,quick-witted and friendly . Those who knew her know she loved her coffee (black), chocolate ice cream sundaes and donuts in spite of having such a slender physique. Towards the end of her life, she literally survived on this selection of food.

Wife of the late Richard E. Johnston. Loving mother of Victoria Leigh Phelan and Tracy Lynn Johnston. Devoted grandmother of Lindsay and Lauren Tauscher. Also survived by her devoted cousin Dale Chase.

Funeral service will be Tuesday, 10:30 a.m. at the Lewis Funeral Home, 78 E. Main St. Moorestown, NJ.

Visitation will be Tuesday, 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Interment will be at Mt. Holly Cemetery, Mt. Holly, NJ.

Memorial contributions may be made to Burlington County Animal Alliance, c/o Lorraine Schrieber ,7 Pioneer Lane, Willingboro, NJ 08046 www.bcaaofnj.org.

Condolences may be left at www.lewisfuneralhomemoorestown.com.