Jack Verlan Johnson

1940 - 2009

Jack V. Johnson, beloved husband, father and grandfather entered into eternity on August 19, 2009.
Funeral services for Mr. Johnson will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at the Eastern Heights Baptist Church with Rev. Willard Lyons of Copan and Mr. Charles Spencer officiating. Interment will be in the Memorial Park Cemetery where law enforcement burial rites will be accorded by the Bartlesville Police Department and Washington County Sheriff's Office Honor Guard. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Stumpff Funeral Home & Crematory.
Casket escorts will include Kenny Dixon, David Hancock, Alan Johnson, Denny Alberty, Jim Alberty, Josh Hill, Donald Ingle and Andy Teel. Honorary casket escorts will include Dennis Nix, Pat Ballard, Rick Silver, Rocky Bevard, Jerry Henshall, Dan Miller, Corky Davis and Tom Holland.
The Johnson family will receive guests at the Stumpff Funeral Home on Sunday afternoon from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m.
A memorial fund has been established and those who wish may send their contributions to Cornerstone Hospice, 3414 S.E. Kentucky, Bartlesville, Oklahoma, 74006.
Jack was born May 15, 1940 to Mabel and Arthur Johnson in Little Kansas, Oklahoma, the next-to-youngest of 6 children. Growing up, Jack's family traveled extensively, following the tomato and cotton harvests. Most of Jack's education was received in Salina, Oklahoma and he later received his diploma in the military.
Jack met the love of his life, Donna Kay Payne at the age of 15 and 5 years later they married on June 5, 1960, at the Salvation Army Church in Bartlesville beginning a romance that spanned the last 49 years.
Jack began a life of service to his country and community at the age of 17 when he joined the Army National Guard, later transferring to the Army Reserve. In 1961, he began his career with the City of Bartlesville in the Water Department; transferring to the Police Department in May of 1963.
Jack had a long and distinguished career at the police department attaining the ranks of Sergeant and Lieutenant before retiring in May of 1983. Immediately following retirement, Jack began work at the Washington County Sheriff's Office as an investigator under Sheriff Glenn Codding and beginning in 1985 held the office of Undersheriff for Sheriff Larry Silver and later for Sheriff Pat Ballard until retiring in October 2002.
Not only did Jack love his community, he was most proud of his two children and 6 grandchildren and led his family by example; inspiring his son and 3 grandsons to follow his footsteps into law enforcement. Jack enjoyed spending time with his family, camping, fishing, gardening and teaching his grandsons how to fish and hunt.
Survivors include his wife, Donna Kay Johnson of Bartlesville, one son, Steve Johnson and his wife Tammi of Copan, one daughter, Patricia Phelps and her husband Mark of Bartlesville, one brother, Dee Johnson of Claremore, one sister, Overta Alberty and her husband James of Salina, and six grandchildren, Steven Johnson and his wife Renee, Joshua Johnson, Clifton Johnson and his wife Kealy, Travis Phelps, Sara Johnson and Jenifer Johnson. He was preceded in death by his mother and father and three brothers.