Rosadell "Johnnie" Zumwalt, age 95, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great grandmother, passed on to her heavenly home on January 4, 2015. Born in Chisago City, Minnesota on October 13th, 1919, Johnnie was the youngest of 5 children to Albin and Esther Johnson. After she graduated from high school, she moved to Twin Cities, Minnesota where she attended beauty school and went on to work as a hair stylist. World War II was going on at this time, and some of Johnnie's customers were female recruiters. She admired the gals in their uniforms, and on March 31, 1944, she enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps where she earned the nickname Johnnie, due to her maiden name being Johnson. Soon after basic training she was stationed in Washington D.C. for 14 months, working in the beauty shop to where she was assigned. In April of 1945, Johnnie was one of many servicemen and women who marched in President Franklin D. Roosevelt's funeral procession. En route to her new assignment at Camp Pendleton, California, she met Thomas "Smitty" Eugene Smith, who was on his 21st year of service in the U.S. Navy. Johnnie separated from the Marine Corp, receiving her Honorable Discharge after 2 years of service. On January 4, 1946, the two were married in San Diego, California. They had two daughters; Thomasine and Vickie. After a few transfers which included a move to Hawaii, Smitty retired from the Navy in 1954, and the family relocated to Dallas, Texas. Smitty and Johnnie were married for 20 wonderful years and Smitty unexpectedly passed away in 1966. During their marriage, Johnnie, a wife and a stay at home mother, was always involved in her daughters' extracurricular activities. She was a BlueBird and Campfire Leader, played an active role with the Junior Girl's Golf Association at Brookhaven Country Club where they were members. She wanted her daughters to love the game of golf as she and her husband Smitty did. She was also involved with the Dallas Figure Skating Club where her daughters enjoyed skating. Johnnie had always been interested in nursing, and shortly after the death of her husband, she applied and was accepted into a vocational nursing program where she became an LVN. She worked as a nurse at St. Paul Hospital in Dallas, as well as, Dallas County Jail, also home health nursing. Johnnie was a 6 year widow when she met her second husband, Hal J. Zumwalt, and the two were married March 17, 1972 in Dallas, Texas. Soon after, they moved to Sun City, Arizona where they shared 34 wonderful years of marriage until Hal's death in July 2006. Johnnie and Hal were long time members of Union Hills Country Club in Sun City where she as an avid golfer, loved competitive play, and participated in many tournaments. She was always involved in club activities and for many years took a leadership role in most of them. In addition, she enjoyed water aerobics, walking, exercise, square dancing, traveling, and volunteer work. On March 5, 2009, Johnnie was recognized for her 30 years of service and commitment to the Sun City Meals on Wheels for her outstanding performance and exceptional commitment to teamwork from 1978-2008. Johnnie was always well versed on current events. She was a sports fan and enjoyed watching basketball and baseball. Johnnie was also a member of the Faith Presbyterian Church of Sun City, Arizona. In February of 2009, with the help of her daughter Vickie, she relocated to Carrollton, Texas. She moved in to an independent living community, Lakeview at Josey Ranch in Carrollton, Texas and again was an active participant in many activities taking up a leadership role in Bean Bag baseball which the residents enjoyed playing. She rarely missed the exercise classes and still walked at least one mile a day. In 2012 she moved to Tradition at Prestonwood, a very upscale independent community where she continued to enjoy life and meeting new people. In August 2014 her health started to fail and she was moved into Atria Assisted Living in Carrollton where she remained until her passing. Johnnie was active her whole life and easily made friends wherever she went. Her beautiful smile was infectious, she was an inspiration to all that knew her, and was a great humanitarian. She was a member of The Greatest Generation and will forever be missed. During a 2013 interview by Just 5 More Minutes, she was asked what advice she would leave for her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Johnnie smiled and offered the following words, "I tried to instill in them, that always tell the truth and you never have to remember what you said." Johnnie was proceeded in death by her parents, Albin and Esther Johnson; Sisters Marie Johnson, Marian Alman; brothers Dale Johnson and Leslie Johnson, her daughter Thomasine Rathjen, and her two husbands Thomas E. Smith and Hal J. Zumwalt. Johnnie is survived by her daughter Vickie and her husband Dave of Carrollton, Texas; granddaughter Stacy McGriff of Austin, Texas; grandsons Brian McGriff of Carrollton, Texas, Keven Owens of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Ron Zumwalt and wife Lisa of Fort Worth, Texas; Great Grandchildren; Alexander McGriff, Christina Serotko, Joseph Serotko, and Savannah McGriff, and one Great Great Granddaughter Averi Serotko. Nieces, Mary Crawford and husband Clarke, Karen Alman, Bonnie Alman, Lenny Johnson and wife Suzanne, Byron Alman. At Johnnie's request there will be a private ceremony that will take place at a later date, at the Arizona National Memorial Cemetery where she will rejoin her late husband, Hal. Johnnie's family requests charitable donations to one of the following: Meals on Wheels Chapter, 10404 West Coggins Drive #106, Sun City, Arizona 85351 (623) 974-9430; Sun Health Foundation, 14719 W. Grand Avenue, Surprise, Arizona (6230 832-5330; Faith Presbyterian Church, 16000 North Del Webb Boulevard, Sun City, Arizona 85351 (623) 974-3611. If you would like to see her interview in its entirety, click on the following link: http://www.generationslestweforget.com/narratives/veteran-memories/world-war-2/johnnie-zumwalt/?fb_action_ids=709553075818592&fb_action_types=og.comments