Johnny Andrew Dennis passed away on October 29, 2023, in DuPont, Washington. He was one of five children born to Clarence L. V. and Ersley Beulah Dennis. Johnny was preceded in death by his parents and his younger sister, Sandra Gail Smith.
Johnny graduated Waterloo High School. Married his high school sweetheart, Ramona Childers, had two children and two grandchildren. His is survived by his wife of 61 years, Ramona; his son, Randy Dennis (Laura); his grandsons, Colin and Jordan Dennis; and his daughter, Rhonda Dennis (Vincent Marsh). He is also survived by three siblings (Shirley, Clarence W., and Donnie Dennis).
Early in his life he was a private pilot, worked at Reynolds’s Aluminum, and was a Real Estate Agent in Florence. It wasn’t until late in life that he found his passion as a volunteer firefighter. He spent the remainder of his life serving his community and Alabama as volunteer firefighter. He was a founding member and the first President of the Underwood – Petersville Volunteer Fire Department (UPVFD). No job was ever to great or to small to maintain the UPVFD for the protection of the community.
Throughout his 40 years of devotion to the volunteer fire service, Johnny was a former President of the Association of Alabama Volunteer Fire Departments (AAVFD) and lifetime member. He worked tirelessly to improve Alabama’s Volunteer Fire Departments (VFD) through training, education, recruitment, certification and equipment. He was instrumental in obtaining AEDs for each VFD with the assistance of State Senator Tom Butler. He attended National Conferences to share knowledge always seeking to improve the VFDs. As a member of the AAVFD, Johnny formed the State Honor Guard to honor the volunteers who served and protected their communities.
He was also involved in the Rural Community of Fire Protection Institute; and was an Alabama Forestry Commissioner.
Johnny was a member of the Jacksonburg Church of Christ. Visitation will be held Wednesday, November 8, 2023, from 4-6 p.m. at Greenview Funeral Home. Open visitation is available on November 9, 2023, until 11:45 a.m. Funeral services will be held Thursday, November 9, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. in the Greenview Memorial Chapel. Harrison Chastain will be the officiating minister with burial to follow in Greenview Memorial Park.
