Richard Johnson Obituary

Richard W. Johnson, age 86, passed away at Hospice of Atlanta on Tuesday, November 13, 2012. He was the cherished husband of Lois Sachs Johnson (Kennesaw, GA) for 56 years, adored Dad of Ilene Sue Smith (Bryan S.), and loving Grandpa of Adam C. Smith, Jenna L. Smith, and Alex M. Smith, all of Acworth, GA. Dick was the beloved son of the late Nathan and Mildred Carlson Johnson of Jamestown, NY. He is survived by his sister, Dorothy Pettit (William J.) of Jamestown, NY; brother, Gordon S. Johnson (Kathleen H.) of Ft. Myers, FL; nieces, Dru Anne Cole (Scott), Wendy Pettit, and Debbie Swan (Jeff); and nephews, Todd Johnson (Tiffany), and Chad Johnson (Joanna), and their families. Dick was born July 16, 1926 in Jamestown, NY. He was baptized and confirmed in the Zion Covenant Church of Jamestown, and is a graduate of Jamestown High School and Alfred University in New York State. His career began in Chicago as an underwriter for Health Service, Inc. He retired as an Actuary from National Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association after 33 years in 1989. Dick was an empathetic, eclectic, strong, compassionate man who loved all his family. He was an avid chess, poker, and bridge player and was known for his pipes, dry sense of humor, teaching at Purdue University, and his original children's stories and poems. He was a friend of many. Dick served on numerous boards including United Cerebral Palsy in Chicago, IL where he was responsible for funding their non-funded Adult Cerebral Palsy Program. This program served hundreds of adults who were born with cerebral palsy as was Dick. He was an equal partner with his wife, Lois, in building two developments for people with disabilities, one in Roselle, IL, and the other in Tucson, AZ. The silence with him gone is deafening. Memorial contributions may be made to the Richard W. Johnson Fund for Adult Assisted Technology Programs at United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Chicago, Attention Richard Brown, 547 W. Jackson Blvd., Suite 225, Chicago, IL 60661, 312-765-0419. Arrangements by Byars Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Cumming, Georgia, (678) 455-5815.