Clarence Cecil Johnson, 83 of Arab Alabama died Wednesday – June 1, 2016 at Shepherd’s Cove – Hospice of Marshall County.
Mr. Johnson was born on February 14, 1933 in Talladega County, Alabama to Emmet Clyde Johnson & Lou Emma Champion Johnson. Cecil had a long distinguished career working for the U.S. Army Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. After serving in the U.S. Army he began his civilian career at Anniston Army Depot, Anniston, Alabama, before attending the Supply Intern Program at Erie Ordnance Depot, Toledo Ohio. Upon completion of the Intern Program in 1960 he began his 36 year career at the U.S. Army Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. He spent several years working in the Material Management Directorate: Information Systems Directorate; Safeguard Logistics Command; and the International Logistic Directorate before spending many years in the TOW Project Office as the Senior Logistician. During his time with the TOW Project Office he managed the logistic effort to deploy and sustain the readiness of the basic TOW missile and to deploy the TOWII version of the missile. He was a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) TOW Weapon System Partnership Committee for many years providing logistical support to the NATO partners. Cecil retired in 1993 after 36 years of service.
He was a member of Gilliam Springs Baptist Church.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years: Evelyn Smith Johnson; two daughters: Tammy Johnson Sorter (Clyde), Sandy Johnson Roe (Randal); five grandchildren: Jeff Johnson (Jennifer), Amy Nelson (Joe), Danielle Woodham (Matthew), Dylan Sorter, Brianna Sawyer; seven great grandchildren: Carleigh, Avery and Landry Johnson, Jackson Sorter, Izabella Brothers, Charlee and Lila Walker; one brother: Sidney Johnson and three sisters: Joyce Ann Caldwell, Catherine Harris and Linda Smith. He was preceded in death by his parents: Emmet Clyde Johnson & Lou Emma Johnson; two sons: Danny Jeff Johnson and Larry Cecil Johnson.
Funeral service will be 2:00 p.m. – Friday- June 3, 2016 at Arab heritage Memorial Chapel with Brother Jamey Pruitt and Brother Max Roden and Jeff Johnson, officiating. Burial will be in Gilliam Springs Cemetery. Arab Heritage Memorial Chapel, directing.
Pallbearers will be Bill Butterworth, Bill Cooley, Doug Driskill, Jack Louden, George Pollock and Ralph Osborne.
Visitation will be 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. – Thursday – June 2, 2016 at Arab Heritage Memorial Chapel.
