Robert Winston Johnson, age 89, of Dunkirk passed away late Saturday evening (February 21, 2015) after a brief illness.
He was born December 6, 1925 in Lamberton, New York, to the late John and Anna (Larson) Johnson.
A Chautauqua County resident for most of his life, he was a 1943 graduate of Brocton High School. Upon graduation he fol-lowed his brother (Milton) and sister (Florence) into the armed forces to serve during World War II. Bob enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps, serving as a B-17 crew member in Guam and obtaining an honorable discharge in 1946.
He was employed at several local enterprises before joining Great Lakes Color Printing in 1952, where he remained until his retirement in 1985. Bob pursued a variety of interests including piloting single-engine aircraft, competitive archery, competitive rifle shooting, scuba diving, skiing, hang-gliding, boating, and performing with the Barbershoppers and other community singing groups. After retirement, he and his wife traveled extensively in the U. S. and Canada. He also enjoyed golfing and socializing with his friends from Great Lakes and the local area.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Patricia (Forbes) Johnson; sons Robert W. (Christine) Johnson Jr. of Waukegan, IL and Kenneth A. Johnson of Fredonia; and a brother, Charles Johnson of Lamberton. He is the loving grandfather of Michael and Matthew Johnson of Fredonia, and Nicholas, Lucas, and Alexis Johnson of Waukegan, IL. He was also the proud uncle of numerous nieces and nephews in the Johnson, Forbes, Cenedella, Sherman, and Stone families.
Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his siblings Milton, Lester, Raymond, Ruth, and Florence Johnson.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial which will be celebrated Friday, February 27 at 11:00 AM in St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Dunkirk. Friends are invited to call at the McGraw-Kowal Funeral Home, 736 Central Avenue in Dunkirk, from 6:00-8:00 PM on Thursday, February 26. The family requests that memorials in Bob's memory be made to the American Heart Association.
By the Observer
