Robert Allan Johnson Sr.

He was a beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather and cherished friend of many.

Bob was born on August 7, 1921, in Terre Haute, Indiana to the late Winnie Kelshaw Johnson and Allan Johnson.

Bob enlisted in the US Navy in 1942 shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

In 1944, while on medical leave from the Navy, he met the beautiful redhead Esther Ewing who became the love of his life, his wife of 65 years and the mother of his children. After the war, Bob and Esther moved to Indianapolis where he attended Butler University to study Journalism. He graduated from Butler in 1949 and began working for the Indianapolis Star as a reporter. He later worked as a dispatcher for a trucking company in Evansville, Indiana. Bob had many hobbies and interests, including a love of gemstones and jewelry- making. He and Esther traveled the country in search of interesting stones and were among the founding members of the Evansville Lapidary Society. After his jewelry making years, he took up woodcarving and through the years, carved a vast collection of birds, native American figures, walking canes and Santa Clauses. He was also an avid gardener and passed his love of planting and growing on to his son Robert, Jr.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Esther Ewing, his brother Bruce Johnson, his daughter Linda Johnson Grant and his granddaughter Laura Grant.

He is survived by his son Robert Allan Johnson, Jr. (Jo Kennedy); his grandsons Brian Grant (Charmaine), Scott Johnson, and Evan Johnson; and his great-granddaughters Isis Grant, Ajia Grant and Elena Johnson.

His remains will rest in peace at the Methodist Temple Columbarium in Evansville, Indiana.

The family would like to thank the staff of Hermitage Richmond for their extraordinary care and kindness.