Arthur Dale “Dart” Johnson, 65, of Florence, Alabama, passed away on August 15, 2026, following a long and courageous battle with cancer. Known affectionately as “Dart” by his family and friends and as “Dale” by many of those he worked alongside, Arthur was a hardworking, kindhearted man whose greatest legacy will always be the family he loved unconditionally.
Visitation will be at Greenview Funeral Home on Friday, August 21, 2026 from 11-12 p.m.
The funeral service will follow immediately at 12 p.m. in the chapel.
Arthur was born January 29, 1961, in Winfield, Iowa, to Nancy Johnson and Richard Johnson. As a young man, he proudly served his country in the United States Navy from 1979 to 1983. In the 1990s, Arthur made his way to Florence, Alabama. It was there that he met Trena, the woman with whom he would build his life and family. Arthur and Trena married in 1999 and spent more than 25 years together.
Though Arthur never had biological sons of his own, he became a father in every sense of the word to Christopher Staggs (Brittney), Jonathan Wallace, and Nicholas Wallace (Shauna). To Dart, the word “step” never defined his relationship with his boys. He took them in as his own sons, loved them unconditionally, stood beside them through life’s ups and downs, and was always there whenever they needed him.
He didn’t simply marry into a family. He became their family.
As much as Dart loved being a father, becoming a grandfather brought another special kind of joy into his life. He was a proud and loving grandfather to Cerenity Staggs, Carlee Rose Staggs, Kennedy Staggs, Aiden Staggs, Jackson Staggs, Raelynn Wallace, Peyton Wallace, Hayden Wallace, and Mason Wallace.
Dart loved his grandchildren unconditionally. One of his greatest joys was simply being there for them and watching them grow. He especially loved watching his grandchildren play sports. Whether he was sitting in the stands or watching from along the fence, he was proud just to be there supporting them. Those days at ballfields and sporting events may have seemed ordinary at the time, but they became memories his family will carry with them forever. When he wasn’t watching his grandchildren play, there was a good chance Dart was watching Alabama football and cheering on the Crimson Tide.
Arthur, known as Dale to many of his coworkers, was a hardworking man who believed in doing what needed to be done and taking care of the people he loved. He spent 20 years working at Southwire, where many people came to know him simply as Dale. His strong work ethic and dependability were qualities he carried throughout his life.
But a man’s life cannot be measured simply by where he worked or how many years, he worked there. Dart’s life is better measured by the people who knew they could call him when they needed help, the family members who knew he would be there, and the children and grandchildren who never had to question whether he loved them. Dart endured more in his lifetime than any one man should have to endure. Life was not always easy or fair to him, yet through it all, he remained a kind man with a good heart. He continued to love. He continued to forgive. He continued to show up for the people who mattered to him. Most importantly, he loved his family unconditionally.
Dart’s final years showed the same strength and determination that defined so much of his life. He was first diagnosed with cancer in 2023 and fought it for approximately a year and a half before receiving the news that he and his family had prayed for—he was cancer-free. Unfortunately, his fight was not over.
The cancer later returned and spread to his lungs, liver, and brain. Once again, Dart fought with everything he had even through his battle with cancer, he continued working until approximately two months before his passing.
On August 15, 2026, after everything his body had endured, his fight finally came to an end.
Cancer may have taken him from this life, but cancer will never define the life of Arthur Dale Johnson.
Cancer was only one chapter of Dart’s story. Love, family, hard work, and being there for others were the story of his life.
Arthur was preceded in death by his father, Richard Johnson, and his beloved granddaughter, Carlee Rose Staggs.
He is survived by his wife, Trena Johnson; his mother, Nancy Johnson; his sons, Christopher Staggs (Brittney), Jonathan Wallace, and Nicholas Wallace (Shauna); his grandchildren, Cerenity Staggs, Kennedy Staggs, Aiden Staggs, Jackson Staggs, Raelynn Wallace, Peyton Wallace, Hayden Wallace, and Mason Wallace; and his brothers, Mike Johnson, Nick Johnson, and Kirk Johnson, along with many other family members, coworkers, and friends who loved him dearly.
Arthur leaves behind something far greater than anything that can be written in an obituary. He leaves behind a family that knew they could depend on him. He leaves behind grandchildren who knew exactly how much their PawPaw loved them. And he leaves behind three sons who may not have shared his blood but never needed to for Arthur to call them his own.
He chose to be their father, and they were proud to call him Dad.
To some, he was Arthur.
To the people he worked beside for so many years, he was Dale.
To his family and those closest to him, he was Dart.
To his grandchildren, he was PawPaw Dart.
And to three boys he chose to love as his own, he was Dad.
He was a husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, veteran, hardworking man, and friend.
But perhaps the simplest description of Arthur Dale “Dart” Johnson is also the most fitting:
He was a good man.
His battle is over. There is no more pain and no more suffering. His family would give anything for more time with him, but the love he gave them, the lessons he taught them, and the memories they made together will remain for generations to come.
Rest easy, Dart.
