William R. Johnson

WILLIAM RAY JOHNSON (Bill, Cadillac Willy, BJ, Billy Ray)

Born, 11-22-1935 in Wallins Creek (Bull Dog Holler), KY. Passed at the age of 81 on 12-30-2016. Preceded in death by mother, Goldie Brown Johnson Friend, and father Oscar Johnson (estranged); grandparents Daniel Logan Brown and Minnie Lou Slusher Brown; aunts and uncles William H. Brown, Arthur Earnest Brown, Belve Howard Brown, Myrtle Francis Brown, Mae Brown Welsh Ransone, Betty Jo Bramblett Ferrara, and Mary Brown Cain; first cousins Bob Brown, Mike Welsh, Gary Bramblett, and Debbie Bramblett Hirsh, as well as his father-in-law, Marvin Dwight Dorn. He is survived by his wife, Karen Dorn Johnson; children Loretta Mae Johnson, Steven Ray Johnson, and Kimberly Michele Johnson (Chris) Walkup and stepchildren Eric M. (Emily M.) Johnson and Valerie K. Johnson Turner; grandchildren Carey M. Fox, Amelia E. Johnson, Adam Z. Johnson, Jordan N. Foust, Chloe A. Foust, Christopher N. Walkup, Brody M. Turner, Kylie M. Turner, Chauncey W. Turner, Wyatt M. Turner, Tess C. Johnson, and Ava Jewell Johnson; and great grandchildren Ethan W. Fansher, Ava Elizabeth Thompson, Logan N. Foust, and Noah R. Thompson. Also survived by his mother-in-law, Jewell (Pat) Dorn, nephew Jon Durall, and a host of cousins and friends, in particular Paul and Scott Kizer, Josh Goodson, Dave DeCamp, Dan Schlagetter, Darrel Holt, and John Spoonts. He was born in a very poor Appalachian coal-mining town, Wallins Creek, Kentucky, spending a lot of time with his Ma (his grandmother) where he learned about love of family, how to entertain himself without store-bought toys, etc. At the age of seven, relocated to Cincinnati with his mother, where he loved to ride his bicycle, sit up high and look down on the steam engines at the local train station, do odd jobs at the museum where the curator had taken him under his wing and opened his eyes to the many wonders of this earth. He and his mother later moved to Dayton where his grandmother, three aunts, and an uncle had migrated to. While he didn’t graduate from high school, he went back in his adult life and got his GED along with some college courses to help with his job. He worked at a couple of other places, but spent 30 some years in the employment of the American Lubricants Company, working his way up from the mail room/odd jobs to Traffic Manager until his health caught up to him and he went on disability.He had a love of steam engines, motorcycles, and classic cars; he loved feeding the birds and squirrels, and saving various bugs and spiders in the house; and he enjoyed watching favorite sports teams (Red, Bengals, OSU), as well as the American Picker, Fast and Loud, Pawn Shop, and Fox News. While his cardiac issues and COPD wrecked havoc on his body, nothing will destroy the love of his family and friends who will miss his memories, his advice, his stories, his love of nature. We know in our hearts that he’s no longer in pain, and we take comfort in knowing he’s now in a better place. There’s a lot of family and friends who proceeded him that he can catch up with, he’s probably got the music up loud and dancing with Aunt Betty, perhaps getting in a little mischief with cousin, Bob, and having serious talks with Beisel about steam trains and classic cars. RIP Bill!!Visitation will be 6-8 PM Tuesday, January 3, 2017 at the TROSTEL, CHAPMAN, DUNBAR & FRALEY FUNERAL HOME, New Carlisle, Ohio, with services at 8 PM in the funeral home. Private burial. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions for William Johnson may be made to any First Financial Bank.