Johanna Holm

Johanna Holm was born in Bluefield, West Virginia, to Paul and Maxine Holm. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Cincinnati in Ohio and later continued her studies at West Virginia University’s Charleston Campus.

Her professional life began as a chemist at Union Carbide Chemical Corporation in South Charleston, West Virginia. After ten years in the laboratory, she returned to college to earn a teaching certificate and began her 30-year career in the Kanawha County school system. She taught chemistry and mathematics primarily at George Washington High School in Charleston, with earlier positions at South Charleston High School and Hayes Junior High School in St. Albans.

Beyond the classroom, Johanna was deeply committed to animal welfare. She served on the Board of Directors of the Kanawha County Animal Shelter and played a key role in establishing junior humane societies in several county junior high and high schools. She took special pride in finding loving homes for hundreds of cats and dogs and adopted many animals herself.

She is remembered fondly by family and friends who had the privilege of knowing her.