Tempe Hamilton Johnson

Tempe Hamilton Johnson, 81, of Oro Valley, Arizona passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 29, 2023 at Catalina Post-Acute & Rehabilitation Facility.

Tempe was born June 26, 1942 in Richmond, Virginia, daughter to Richmond and Mary Frothingham (Moore). She attended Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia and moved with her parents to Bloomington, Indiana midway through her senior year where she graduated from University High School in 1959. She also attended Indiana University. During her time at IU, she taught piano lessons as a means of income. Tempe drove a Volkswagen Beetle and at one point, she actually disassembled and reassembled the carburetor on her car so she could continue to drive to and from her classes.

She worked as an Executive Secretary for Coldwater Community Hospital (1974 – 1982). During that time, she met her beloved husband, David Johnson of Union City, Michigan. They wed on May 7, 1982 and shortly thereafter, moved to Littleton, Colorado. Tempe worked at a Law Firm as an Office Manager and later pursued a long career at Helzberg Diamonds as a Sales Consultant. Tempe’s extreme dislike of snow resulted in a move to Sun City Vistoso in Oro Valley, Arizona in March of 1995 where she continued to work for and eventually retired from Helzberg Diamonds. In January 2022, Dave and Tempe sold their home in Sun City and moved to The Fairwinds Desert Point which she absolutely loved, especially since she no longer had to cook!

Tempe loved to play the piano and sing. A classically trained pianist, she sang as a soprano soloist for several years in the Presbyterian Church in Coldwater and also organized and directed the Hospital Choir. Additionally, Tempe loved to play golf. On October 30, 1998 she shot a hole in one on the 17th hole at Sun City Vistoso (now The Views) golf course. As a resident of Sun City, Tempe founded and chaired the “Neighborhood Pride Committee” for 17 years. It was not an easy job, but her dedication and attention to detail was greatly admired and appreciated by many people.

Tempe loved spending time with family and friends and often shared numerous stories about her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She enjoyed and loved her cats that were also part of her family.

Tempe is survived by her husband, David Johnson, her children, Scott (Karen) Walls of Quincy, Michigan; Jennifer (Nick) Etuko of Lake Elmo, Minnesota; Andy (Cara) Walls of Littleton, Colorado; (7) Grandchildren and (5) Great Grandchildren and brother Robert (Bonnie) Frothingham and two sons of Evans, Georgia. Preceded her in death was her mother and father Richmond and Mary Frothingham.

A celebration of life will be held on October 28, 2023 at the Vistoso Funeral Home, 2285 E. Rancho Vistoso Blvd., Oro Valley, Arizona 85755 at 2:00 pm. Donations in Tempe’s memory may be made to the Southern Arizona Humane Society, 645 W Roger Road, Tucson, Arizona 85705 or Sun City Vistoso Community Foundation, 1565 E. Rancho Vistoso Blvd, Oro Valley, Arizona 85755.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.neptunesociety.com/location/tucson-cremation for the Johnson family.