Source: http://www.ruebelfuneralhome.com/obituaryindividual.php?id=766

Robert William Johnson

Robert William Johnson, 90, retired United Methodist minister, died Friday, February 12 at Baptist Hospital in Little Rock while surrounded by his loving family. He was born April 25, 1919 in Jersey, AR to Annie Anders and James Patterson Johnson. One of nine children, Robert was preceded in death by his parents, one sister and four brothers. He is survived by his devoted wife of almost 67 years, Helen Porter Johnson, three children, six grandchildren and six great grandchildren. His loving family includes son Robert W. ``Bob'' Johnson and wife Kathy of Powder Springs, GA, son Keith Gordon Johnson and wife Debbie of Collierville, TN and daughter Becky Johnson Kossover and husband Jerry of Little Rock. Surviving grandchildren include Mark (Andrea) and children Liliana Elyse and Jessalyn Helen of Memphis, TN; Angela (Todd) Dodge and children Mason William (his namesake) and Owen Stewart of Colorado Springs, CO; Kara (Jeremy) Myers and daughter Claire Elizabeth and Russ (Cathi) Johnson and son Tyler Stephens all of Marietta, GA; Ashley Johnson of Nashville, TN; and Erin (Adam) Anglin of Denver, CO. He is also survived by two sisters, Frances ``Hank'' Holderfield of Hot Springs, Mary Lee of Warren and a brother, James ``Pete'' Johnson of Benton.

Having grown up on a farm helping his dad raise and pedal fresh produce over much of Arkansas, Robert joined the US Army Air Force in 1940, soon after graduating from Hermitage High School, and was stationed at Willow Run in Ypsilanti, Michigan. He had already fallen for a nearby farm girl, his ``sweetie'', whom he finally convinced to come see him in the spring of 1943. Once there, he persuaded her to drop out of college, stay and marry him. They were fortunate to have families near the base who gave them a big wedding, providing everything from a wedding dress to the flower girls on March 17, 1943. They stayed in touch with these families, especially the flower girls, all these years. His only regret at leaving this world was not being able to continue taking care of Helen.

In 1946, Robert and Helen returned with an 18 month old daughter to Bradley County, purchased a farm and began what Robert called ``some hard years''. After several years, Robert gave up on farming and joined an older brother in the oil business in Houston for a year ``making the most money I ever made''. The Lord, however, had other plans for Robert and Helen. Expecting their third child, they returned a year later having realized he was being called into the ministry. Starting his career as a United Methodist minister at age 33 in McRae, AR in 1952, Robert attended Hendrix College and Perkins Theological Seminary in Dallas during summers to complete the requirements needed to pastor a Methodist congregation. Over the next thirty-one years, he served congregations in Plummerville, Melbourne, Murfreesboro, Little Rock Hunter Memorial, Salem/Congo, Benton Parkview, Stamps, Pine Bluff Carr, Marysville/Silver Hill, Springhill/Deann and Bearden/Thornton.

During his last years as a pastor, Robert and Helen purchased her family farm in Calhoun County and he began the joy of building their retirement home near Hampton, AR. He took great pride in having designed the home and used some wood from Helen's grandparents home built prior to the civil war in the décor. They spent 17 happy years there planting gardens, building a pond, using fresh spring water and hosting a slew of family and friends. Their favorite pastime was to attend Razorback football and basketball games as often as possible. Having become acquainted with the ``Razorback Nation'' in the late 1950's, through tickets provided by a parishioner, they began to purchase season tickets as soon as they could afford it. They were known to drive as far as the Carolina's to attend a basketball game and to all the surrounding states to attend football games. While Arkansas was still a Southwest Conference school, the Johnson's' were regular attendees at the SWC tournaments, bringing children and grandchildren along with them. After moving to Little Rock to a retirement center in 1999, they were able to attend even more games in Fayetteville. While in the retirement centers, Robert became known as the ``hog caller'' because he led the residents in the ``hog call'' during lunch on Razorbacks game days! It was one of the hardest days of his life when, at age 87, he had to admit that vertigo and vision problems meant he could no longer attend games. But he never failed to watch or listen to a game until the last few weeks of his life. His children knew the end was near when, after breaking a hip in mid December, he never fully regained his interest in the Razorbacks.

A visitation will be held at Ruebel Funeral Home, 6313 W. Markham St., from 2-4 PM on Sunday, February 14. A celebration of life service will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, February 15 at Trinity United Methodist Church, Mississippi and Evergreen. A private graveside service will follow Tuesday morning at Pinecrest Cemetery. Officiating will be Associate Pastor Rev. Candance Barron. Funeral arrangements are by Ruebel Funeral Home, 6313 W. Markham. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Robert and Helen Johnson Endowment Fund at the Methodist Children's Home, the original component of Methodist Family Health on Aldersgate Road, PO Box 56050, Little Rock, AR 72215. www.ruebelfuneralhome.com