Gilbert Dean Johnson, 95, passed away Sunday, September 27, at Mitchell Manor.
Born August 22, 1931, in Bedford, he was the son of Howard James and Alma Elizabeth (Fine) Johnson. He married Esther Carolyn Bunch on May 10, 1951, and she preceded him in death on April 9, 2018. Esther and “Gil,” as she called him, were married for 66 years.
Gilbert left Oolitic High School in 1947 and moved to Michigan, then returned in 1949, and worked for Howard Crulo as a truck driver. He joined the U.S. Air Force on January 5, 1951, and served as an aircraft refueling specialist during the Korean Conflict. Gilbert was honorably discharged on December 9, 1954, and returned to Michigan with his wife due to lack of employment in Indiana. He received his GED and went to school for welding. Gilbert worked at Masco Industries and was a robotic welding instructor for 15 years before retiring in 1993. He was also a member of Woodville Baptist Church and a member of American Legion Post No. 250. Gilbert was a phenomenal woodworker and would make furniture, and also did oil painting on canvas. He was very creative – a natural engineer and could make anything. Gilbert also loved to travel and play golf, and was a member of the Persimmon Ridge Golf Club. He was a great man with a heart of gold, and he will be missed.
Surviving are his siblings, Kay Milligan of Glenburnie, Maryland, Brenda Johnson of Indianapolis, Judith Nichols of Oklahoma, and Debra Knoll of Indianapolis; several nieces and nephews; several great nieces and nephews; and a very dear friend and companion, Mary Brewer of Mitchell.
His parents; wife; infant children, Stephan Dean Johnson and Rhonda Lynn Johnson; and siblings, Raymond Johnson, Dorothy Allen, Dolores Fish, Russell Wayne Johnson in infancy, Perry Johnson, Carolyn Middleton, Patricia Allen, and James Johnson, preceded him in death.
Funeral service will be at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 13, in the Memorial Chapel of Chastain Funeral Home & Cremation Center with Brother Jim Russell officiating. Military rites will be accorded by American Legion Post No. 250 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 9107. Burial will be at Cresthaven Memory Gardens.
The family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m. until the time of the service on Tuesday at the funeral home.
Memorial Donations: St. Jude Children’s Hospital
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.chastainfuneralhome.com
