Robert Lynn "Bob" Johnson, 66, formerly of McAlester, died Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2009, in Phoenix. He was the son of Lester and Dorothy Ray Johnson. He graduated from McAlester High School in 1961. He served in the United States Air Force from 1961 to 1965, stationed in Colorado and Texas. He attended the University of Texas, Austin and began a long career as a computer engineer. His work took him all over the world, living in London and Birmingham, England, Sydney and Melbourne, Australia. He and his family returned to the States, residing in Philadelphia, Pa., then taking him to Dallas, and Phoenix, where he had resided for several years. During his high school days, he was involved with the McAlester High School band, making All State Band with his trumpet and having his own ham radio band. He was also a disc jockey for KNED radio. While in the Air Force, he took up the guitar, becoming proficient and steering him to own a folk music house in Dallas for many years called the Rubaiyat, which became a place for up and coming artists to begin their careers. He was also an avid pilot, at one time being a member of a World War I flying team in England. He was a lifelong member of McAlester First Baptist Church. Survivors include daughter, Julia Carpenter, Bozeman, Mont.; son, Robin Scott Johnson, Kearney, Neb.; wife, Kate Johnson, Philadelphia, Pa. Also, grandson, Jared Lounsbury, Philadelphia, Pa.; mother, Dorothy Johnson, of Krebs; sister, Rose Ann Hicks and husband, John, Collierville, Tenn.; nephews, Dennis Johnson, Rodondo Beach, Calif., and Brian Hicks, Collierville, Tenn., and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Amy Elizabeth Johnson; a brother, David Johnson, and father, Lester Johnson. Pallbearers will be Brian Cook, John Hicks, Brian Hicks, Dennis Cook, John Imes and David Black. Honorary pallbearers will be Barney Fleetwood, Udell Barnes, Harmon Stokes and Mike Williams. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Bishop Chapel of Memories with the Rev. Steve Dennis officiating. Burial will be at Memory Gardens Memorial Park Cemetery in McAlester. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Bishop Funeral Service of McAlester.
(McAlester News Capital, Dec. 9, 2009)