ROBERT EDWARD "BOB" JOHNSON, 95, of
Fort Worth, TX passed away on June 2, 2016, wit
interment at Greenwood Memorial Park.
Robert Edward "Bob" Johnson was born Nov. 1, 1920,
in Ranger, TX to Robert Edward Johnson Sr. & Mary
Gould. They were a close-knit family that included
Bob's brother, Alvin Willis Johnson (RHS-1941) of
Karnes City, & sister, Mary Frances Johnson Eaton
(RHS-1939) of Anchorage, AK. Bob attended Ranger
High School in the Class of 1937. The Johnsons'
cultivated a large garden on an adjoining lot and
freely shared their bounty with neighbors during
the Great Depression. Some neighbors became lifelong
friends. Bob continued the tradition of generosity
throughout his life, sharing pecans from his yard
and vegetables from his garden. He was famous for
arriving at family gatherings and homes of his
neighbors with delicious homemade goodies, especially
soup, cookies and pies. Even in his nineties, he
cooked nine pies at Christmas for special people in
his life, including his doctors.
He had a long and successful career in the aviation
industry, a vital supplier during World War II. He
was among the first group to begin working at North
American Aviation in Dallas in Dec. of 1940. Bob's
aviation expertise was put to good use during his
time in the navy. While working at North American,
he went to the draft board and requested that his
deferment be removed so he could join the war effort.
He served in Oklahoma, California and Rhode Island,
where he was an instructor in the aircraft & repair
shops, teaching seamen how to treat metals. He
achieved the rank of 2nd Class Metalsmith. In 1946,
he was discharged &, along with his brother, treated
his parents to a nice vacation out west before returning
to Texas. After the war, Bob worked in Fort Worth for
Consolidated Vultee and General Dynamics (now Lockheed
Martin). He retired after 40 years in 1986 as a Senior
Test Analyst in the Metallurgy Group's Engineering Test
Lab.
He met his wife, Lucy Wynnelle Oliver, when she worked
in the "B Plant" building bombers during the war. They
married in Feb. of 1947. Bob & Wynnelle spent most of
their married life in Fort Worth's Westworth Village.
In the early years she worked at Southwestern Bell. When
their sons, Robert Warren and Marshall Garth, were born,
Wynnelle became a full-time mother. Bob continued to work
at the aircraft plant, attending TCU during his off hours.
Their focus was a loving family life with church and school
activities, such as ROTC, Boy Scouts and Texas Boys Choir.
Bob served as committee chairman, Troop 18, Boy Scouts of
America, which met at Ridglea Methodist Church. Their sons
went to college, and soon Bob & Wynnelle welcomed daughters-
in-law and grandchildren. They were especially thrilled when
a great grandchild was given the middle name of Wynnelle.
They remained active following Bob's retirement. After 62
years of marriage, Wynnelle passed away Sept. 24, 2009. Bob
continued to travel on occasion and kept up his tradition
of cheerful generosity to family and friends. He was vibrant
and active with interesting memories to share, a truly lovable
man who will be greatly missed by many and remembered always
with affection for his care for others.
Bob was preceded in death by his wife, Lucy Wynnelle Johnson,
and his sister, Mary Frances Johnson Eaton.
Survivors at the time of his death were sons, Robert Warren
and Marshall Garth Johnson; brother Alvin Willis Johnson;
three granddaughters; five great-grandchildren; and many
other loving family members and friends.