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XENIA — Lt. Col. (Ret) Robert Lee Johnson, Miami Twp. Greene Co., went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Sunday May 13, 2018, at his residence. He was born July 31, 1941, in Newport News, Virginia, the son of Wesley Lee and Frances Garner Johnson. He graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute (aka Virginia Tech) in 1963 with a degree in Electrical Engineering and in 1975 received an MBA from the University of Southern California. He served on active duty with the United States Air Force for 21 years during the cold war, specializing in satellite system development and electronic and electro-optic warfare. His final duty station was at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in the Air Force Research Laboratory, where he began his career in 1964. Significant projects he worked on included development and launch of the Fleet Satellite Communications Program at the Space and Missile Systems Center in Los Angeles, and the tracking and recovery of Corona satellite photo reconnaissance capsules while stationed at the Kaena Point Satellite Tracking Station in Hawaii (known as the "catch a falling star" program). After retiring from the Air Force, he worked for Raytheon, Litton, the Air Force Research Laboratory, and taught at Clark State University - in addition to maintaining his 30 acre diversified farm. He was a member of the Gideon's International and the Officer's Christian Fellowship. He was known for his love of theology and teaching the scriptures in multiple Bible studies. While stationed in Hawaii, he earned his pilot and instructor pilot licenses for two seat gliders and flew almost every weekend at Dillingham Air Field. He was also an accomplished runner, completing 113 marathons and ultra-marathons, and enjoyed cycling on weekends with friends on the Miami Valley bike trails. He is survived by his wife Marlene; his daughter Carla and his two sons Will and Sam and their wives Kim and Mei; four grandchildren, Dan, Kate, Andy, and Nathan and their spouses Keira, Ryan and Haley; four great grandchildren, Genevieve, Wyatt, Lorelei and Henry; a twin brother, William Johnson of Chase City, VA; a sister, Debra McBride of Martinsville, VA; and many nieces, nephews, and close friends. The memorial service will be held on June 10th at 2pm at Emmanuel Baptist Church, 1120 South Detroit Street, Xenia, Ohio. The internment with full military honors will be on June 11th at 11am at the National Cemetery in Dayton, 4400 West Third Street, Dayton. All are welcome to both events. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that contributions be made in his memory to the Bob Johnson Educational Fund at gofundme.com for his grandchildren's and great-grandchildren's educational expenses. Condolences may be left for the family at www.NeeldFuneralHome.com.
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