John William Johnson Sr., 80, of Athens passed away Saturday, January 10, 2015. He was born November 21, 1934, in Limestone County to Roy Malone Johnson and Anna Idell Barksdale Johnson.
A memorial service will be held Wednesday, January 14th at 11 a.m. at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church in Athens. McConnell Funeral Home is assisting the family.
Mr. Johnson graduated from Athens High School in 1952 and Auburn University in 1959 with a degree in industrial engineering. He served in the U.S. Army in Japan from 1954 to 1956. After graduating from Auburn, he and his longtime friend, Neal S. Johnston, started J&J Oil Company in July 1959.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 50 years, Peggy Elliott Johnson; and his siblings, Roy Malone Johnson Sr., Martha “Jackie” Bickley and James Ned Johnson.
Survivors include his children, Elizabeth Johnson Spitler and husband, Downs C. Spitler III of Tampa, FL, Laura Johnson Cunningham and husband, Andrew R. Cunningham of Birmingham; John W. Johnson Jr. of Brentwood, TN; Emily Elliott Johnson of Birmingham; three grandchildren, Downs C. Spitler IV of Eugene, OR, Andrew C. Cunningham and Laura Reed Cunningham, both of Birmingham; and numerous nephews, nieces, and cousins.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church of Athens.
