Sandy Johnson retires after 47 years in business

Longtime Vandalia resident Sandy Johnson has retired after working for 47 years in various businesses in Vandalia.

For the past eight years, she has served as the customer service representative at National Bank in Vandalia.
"We will miss her," said Shelby Shurtz, vice president and branch manager of National Bank. "She was a very dedicated employee, and was concerned about treating the customers right."
He also said that Johnson was active in the community – in particular, with the annual Relay for Life that raised funds for the American Cancer Society.
She started her banking career at Farmers and Merchants Bank in Vandalia in 1964, working there for more than 22 years, before leaving to start her own business as a Diet Center franchisee. Subsequently, she has worked Luallen & Cearlock CPAs, John Crane and First National Bank of Brownstown.
"I have made a lot of wonderful friends, and have thoroughly enjoyed serving so many people over the years," she said. "I thank all of my great customers for the privilege of serving them over the years.
"Helping people has been the true joy of my career. But, at the end of the day, I decided that I really wanted to have some free time for myself and my family."
She is married to Larry Johnson, who operates Larry's Barber Shop in Vandalia. They are the parents of a son, Rich, of Fairview Heights, and a daughter, Debbie Schukar of Vandalia. The Johnsons have three grandsons, Tim, Tyler and Devin Schukar of Vandalia.