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Edwin Johnson Obituary
Edwin was born May 27, 1927, in Barranca Bermeja, Colombia, to parents Florence Cleary and Edwin Morton Johnson.
A veteran of World War II, Edwin volunteered for service with the U.S. Navy at the age of 17. He was a member of the commissioning crew aboard the destroyer tender USS Frontier (AD-25) with the rank of fireman first class (1944 to 1946).
In 1948, Edwin graduated with an associate degree from Union Junior College, Cranford, N.J., and in 1950 he graduated with a bachelor's degree from Wilkes College.
In 1952, he married Lee Ann Jakes and the couple had two children.
He joined the faculty at Lehman-Jackson School District in 1952 as a teacher, guidance counselor and coach (baseball and women's basketball) until 1966. In 1958, Edwin earned a master's degree from Bucknell University in education and in 1966 he returned to Wilkes College as a faculty member in the Education Department. Edwin remained at Wilkes College as the director of student teaching until his retirement in 1996, upon which time he was named associate professor emeritus of education.
From 1961 until 1974, Edwin served in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserves, reaching the rank of lieutenant commander in 1969. He relished his time in the Coast Guard and his times at sea.
Edwin was an avid birder and launched the Dallas area Audubon annual Christmas bird count, as well as participating in additional bird counts and nesting censuses throughout the region each year. Edwin was an active member in the local chapter of the Audubon Society, the Torch Club (Wilkes-Barre), the U.S. Coast Guard Veterans Association, the Northeast Pennsylvania Stamp Club and the Pennsylvania Intermountain Pipe Enclave.
For years after his retirement, Edwin volunteered at the Dallas Municipal Library book store. A lifelong learner and voracious reader, Edwin always had recommendations for books and shared many a cartoon from the New Yorker with family and friends.
Edwin was predeceased by his wife, Lee Ann Johnson; and his sister, Virginia Dougherty, Indiana, Pa.
He is survived by his two sons, Dr. E. Mark Johnson (Ann), Greenwood, Del.; and Dr. Eric L. Johnson (Maria), Oneonta, N.Y.; along with two grandchildren, Kaitlin Ann and Joshua Johnson; and many nieces and nephews.
A celebration of Edwin's life will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at Richard H. Disque Funeral Home, 2940 Memorial Highway, Dallas. Interment will be in Fern Knoll Burial Park, Dallas.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Back Mountain Memorial Library, c/o 96 Huntsville Road, Dallas, PA 18612.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Edwin Johnson
6 Entries
May 12, 2018
My thoughts and prayers are with you at this sad time.
Mr.Johnson was my home room teacher,English teacher and girl's basketball coach.
He was always kind and helpful.
He was one of my favorite teachers
Frequently when I visited Fern Knoll Cemetery to place flowers on loved ones graves,he would be in his yard tending to his many bird feeders and I would stop and chat with him.
He was always interested the lives of former students.
I saw him frequently at Lakeside Nursing Center when his wife and my Mother were both residents there.
We will all miss him.
Jeanne Casterline Barrall
Lehman-Jackson-Ross HS
Class of 1955
Beverly Schwartz
May 10, 2018
Ed Johnson was my teacher and mentor at Lake Lehman High School...and the reason I majored in English. Through a BA and two master's degrees, I never had a better teacher; he was the best, the epitome of a gifted teacher-- kind, thoughtful, imaginative, stimulating--and with a great sense of humor. Over lunch hours (his and ours) during my senior year, we read ten additional Shakespearean plays that we wouldn't have had time to read during regular classes. I have fond memories of his classes and of lunches and visits after I graduated. He was truly a wonderful human being.
May 10, 2018
From the first day he arrived at Lehman H.S. in his little green MG he became and remains my role model. He turned me onto books and ways of thinking that I relish to this day. I know he was proud of the kid who couldn't diagram a sentence, but eventually published a book which I dedicated to him because he taught me to love to learn. He is already missed by the many that he touched. Jerry Shilanski Lehman-Jackson-Ross High School Class of 1957
Joy Rinehimer
May 9, 2018
Johnson Family - I'm not able to make it Saturday but want you to know how many fond memories I have working with Ed during our many years at Wilkes. He was an interesting, thoughtful, kind man.
Allen Brague
May 8, 2018
I remember Mr. Johnson when I was participant in Upward Bound in the earliest days of the program. He was our leader and mentor. He was a good man. He will be missed
May 8, 2018
It was a pleasure to know him as a teacher and friend
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