Johnnie Lea Hylbert
(December 10, 1924 - January 11, 2011)

Johnnie Lea Hylbert, 86, of Huntington, wife of Maurice A. Hylbert, died on January 11, 2011 at her home. She was born December 10, 1924 in Omar, West Virginia, a daughter of the late John E. Lea and Ella Mitchell Lea.She graduated from Logan High School in 1940. At age 15, she entered Mary Baldwin College, from which she graduated with honors in 1944. She taught at Omar Junior High for a year, and was for a short time a reporter for the Logan Banner. She received a fellowship to the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, School of Public Health, and obtained a master of science degree in 1946. She worked for the Boone County Health Department and Boone County school system as one of the first professional health educators in West Virginia.
She moved to Huntington in 1948. She was an instructor of public health at the St Mary’s nursing school, and also worked as a manager at Huntington Dry Goods Store. She and Maurice were active in the organization of Enslow Park Presbyterian Church. In 1953, she returned to teaching at West Junior High School as a science teacher, retiring in 1983. Survivors include her husband of 63 years, her cousin Hubert Barnhardt, Jr., of Orlando, FL, her brother- and sister-in-law Robert and Beatrice Hylbert of Georgetown, DE, two nieces, Dawn Norman of Huntington and Laura Hylbert of Paulsboro, NJ, and three nephews, Mark Hylbert of New Church, VA, Matt Hylbert of Greenwood, DE, and John Hylbert of Charleston, WV. She also leaves behind her little dog Cleo.She was a woman of spirit and integrity and touched many lives both among family and friends and at West Junior High. Her family appreciates the caregivers who were loyally with her in her last months. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Hospice of Huntington. A graveside service will be held 1:30 p.m. Friday, January 14, 2011 at the Ridgelawn Cemetery Chapel.