Dale Bert Johnson

A Funeral Service for Dale will be held Monday, December 19, 2022 at 11:00 AM at McLaurin Funeral Home, 12830 Us 70 Business Hwy W, Clayton, North Carolina 27520.

Dale Bert Johnson was born the oldest of three boys on September 11, 1950 in Anita Iowa to Leland Dean Johnson and Margaret Louise McAfee. At the age of six years, Dale moved with his family to Southern California. Dale graduated from Banning Highschool in 1968. It was at Banning High School where he met the love of his life, Julie Alexander. Dale proposed to Julie on the top of a Ferris Wheel at the Pike Amusement Park in December of 1969. Dale had paid the ride operator to pause the Ferris Wheel at the top knowing she was scared of heights so she would say yes.

After graduation from High School, Dale was determined to stay in the area to be near Julie and tried his hand at various jobs that weren’t for him until he eventually joined the U.S. Army in 1969. Dale completed his basic training at Fort Ord in Northern California followed by heavy artillery training at Fort Gordon, Georgia. Dale received his orders to report to duty to serve his country in Viet Nam, where he was to leave on July 6, 1970. Dale and Julie decided to get married before he left and found themselves at Los Angeles court house on June 20, 1970 accompanied by their mothers, Margaret and Loa.

Dale returned home from Viet Nam after many close calls on July 6, 1971 eager to see his new bride and begin settling into married life. The couple soon welcomed three children into their family, Kenneth Dale Johnson, Raymond Dean Johnson, and daughter Marlo Rayleen Johnson. Dale and Julie eventually settled their family in West Covina, California where they would raise all three children while Dale worked as a Mail Handler at the U.S. Post Office for 32 years until he retired on May 31, 2004. Dale and Julie moved to Clayton, North Carolina in March of 2006.

Dale was an avid sports fan. He loved coaching all three of his children’s various baseball teams throughout the years. He took pride in his sports collection that featured his love for all sports, but especially baseball and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Dale’s love for sports also crossed into a desire to participate. He was a proud three time LA marathon finisher. As a grandfather, he continued as the number one fan where he would religiously attend a variety of sporting events cheering his grandkids on.

Dale is proceeded in death by parents, Leland and Margaret Johnson and younger brother Elvin Dean Johnson. Dale is survived by his wife of 52 years, Julie Johnson, son Kenneth Johnson and wife Diane Johnson of San Dimas California, son Raymond Johnson and wife Chandra Johnson of Barstow California, daughter Marlo Watson of Clayton North Carolina and brother Lyle Johnson and wife Emma Johnson of Prescott Arizona. Dale also leaves behind five grandchildren, Kayli Watson, Emily Johnson, Alexa Watson, Brendan Johnson, and Adam Watson.