Bill Johnson

William (Bill) F. Johnson Sr was called to his heavenly home on January 27, 2024, at the age of 90, with both his wife of 69 years and their daughter at his side. A caring son, brother, devoted husband, loving father, grandfather was proceeded in death by his father; Converse R. Johnson, mother; Rochelle B. Johnson, & brother; Richard (Dick) Johnson.

Bill was born during a record breaking hurricane season on September 9, 1933 at the Florida Sanitarium (now called Advent Health) to the late Converse R. Johnson and late Rochelle Brown Johnson. The family moved to South Carolina.

Bill graduated from Chicora High School in 1954 in Charleston, South Carolina, worked at the local grocery store and the William M. Bird Glass Company. Soon after, married his sweetheart, Joann Peacock on October 2, 1954 at Dorchester Waylyn Baptist Church, Charleston, SC. Bill applied for a position at Southern Bell Telephone & Telegraph and the couple accepted and moved to Orlando, Florida. From humble beginnings of climbing telephone poles in cable repair to Management, Billy eventually retired after 30 years of service from Bell South. He proudly served as a Gunner and a Squad Leader in the Army’s National Guard in South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.

Their proudest accomplishment though was the birth of their two children, William Franklin (Frankie) Johnson Jr. and Barbara Jean.

Bill was an avid fisherman his whole life but his first love was flying airplanes. It took only once up in the air with a co-worker friend for his fascination with planes to take off and through determination and drive, Bill obtained his Private Pilot’s license. His health eventually took him out of the Pilot’s seat and he moved onto the golf course where he learned to play golf which was a shared love of his son-in-law and grandson, Steve & Neil Sargent. Along with grandson-in-law Matt Metzler the four of them participated for many years in the Trinity Baptist Youth Memorial Golf Tournaments.

He is survived by his wife, Joann Johnson of Apopka; son, William F Johnson, Jr. of Orlando, daughter Barbara (Steve) Sargent of Apopka.

In addition to his children, he is survived by three grandchildren; Stephanie (Matt) Metzler, Brittany (Justin) Pike, and Neil (Heather) Sargent; eight great grandchildren- Isaac Lorenz, Alaina Rose, Esmae Jolynn of Apopka, FL; Jordy William, Blakeleigh Kay and Jaxon Scott of Phoenix, Arizona -United States Air Force and Brooke Alice and Summer Joan of Winter Garden, Florida; brother, Carl K. Johnson, Ocala, FL.

In lieu of flowers, financial contributions in memory of Bill can be made to: Trinity Baptist Church of Apopka, 1022 S Orange Blossom Trail, Apopka, FL 32703

A visitation for Bill will be held Friday, February 9, 2024 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Woodlawn Memorial Park & Funeral Home, 400 Woodlawn Cemetery Road, Gotha, FL 34734. A funeral service will occur Friday, February 9, 2024 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM, 400 Woodlawn Cemetery Road, Gotha, FL 34734. A committal service will occur Friday, February 9, 2024 from 3:00 PM to 3:30 PM, 400 Woodlawn Cemetery Road, Gotha, FL 34734.