FRANCIS "DAVID" JOHNSON

1926 - 2021

JOHNSON, Francis "David" WWII Navy Vet Francis "David" Johnson passed away on March 1st after eating breakfast at the Veterans Home in Bristol, RI. A Navy veteran and longtime resident of Belmont, Weston and Westport, his family was hit hard by the Depression. He forged an incredible work ethic early, doing household chores at 4 years old and taking on a paper route at 12 to pay for the baseball glove and bike his family could not afford. Small in stature but a natural athlete and fast, he ran track and played football and baseball at Belmont High, working evenings so he could play sports, and graduating Salutatorian of his class. Mr. Johnson served in WWII and then attended Brown University and Williams College on the GI Bill before marrying his high school sweetheart, the late Elizabeth "Betty" Allen, in 1948. The couple spent weekend nights at the Totem Pole and they would raise 6 kids together in Belmont and Weston and be married for 72 years. After getting a Harvard MBA in 1949, he took a consulting job for Arthur D. Little. Just as comfortable working on car engines as business projects/deals, he took a job at a service station in the evenings pumping gas and working on cars. During his life his jobs included business consultant, construction worker, professor (at 8-10 different colleges) and post office clerk. Private and discrete, David was hard to get to know and understand. He was known for his never-give-up work ethic, sometimes walking the train tracks 12 miles each way to Boston at times when he did not have a car. In his 60's, he took a job at the Framingham Post Office, working the night shift for close to 15 years on 2-3 hours of sleep a night, never calling in sick or taking vacation time unless he was forced to, and riding his bike in the dark to work (roughly 8 miles each way) at times while in his 70s. A family member had to retire him from the USPS at 78. Mr. Johnson was an unusually gentle, patient and light handed man who always rooted for the underdog, showed genuine interest in others, and treated everyone the same, even in times of incredible personal stress. He didn't drink or smoke and his faith seemed to guide his life. He spent years as a lay reader, usher and Vestry man at St. Peter's Church in Weston and rarely missed a Sunday. He gave away vacation time to co-workers at the post office and on several occasions when family members were up to 2 hours late picking him up, he sat patiently and never showed a hint of frustration or anger. He'd bury a dead bird in the backyard even when running late because he felt badly and wanted to give the bird some dignity. His son Doug remembers his Dad coming through for him time after time. David truly appreciated the little things. He loved walks at night, body surfing, tennis (he won the Acoaxet Club Tennis Championship sometime in the 60's), ski trips up north, bread (he was known to eat entire loaves at a sitting), peanut butter, orange lollipops, Charleston chews and most of all, cars of all types. While working at the Post Office, Mr. Johnson drove 90 minutes each way on Sundays to see his grandkids. Eventually, when his health started to fail, he went to live with his son Doug and wife Shannon. Magical times, as he seemed to truly find peace in his later years. He cherished his grandkids and formed an extraordinarily close bond with Shannon. In the last stage of his life, Mr. Johnson went to live at the VA Home in Bristol, RI, where he received superlative care. Daughter Betsy brought Betty Johnson to visit David once or twice a week for years. It was fun to see Betty and Dave rekindle and enjoy each other in their later years. The Johnson family is very appreciative for the incredibly professional and loving staff that made Mr. Johnson's time at the VA Home very special. In addition, a huge thanks goes out to Shannon Johnson for giving David so much love and dignity the last 20 years of his life and for finding/arranging the VA Home. Mr. Johnson was predeceased by his two sisters, Ann Macrae (Falmouth, ME) and Elizabeth Reny (Weston) and the love of his life Elizabeth "Betty" Allen Johnson, who passed in September 2020. David is survived by brother Thomas Johnson (Worcester, MA), Johnson sons David (Ocala, FL), Peter (Los Altos, CA), William (Natick, MA) and Doug (Westport, MA), daughters Elizabeth Johnson (Westport, MA) and Anne Johnson (Little Compton, RI), grandchildren Sequoia, Daisy Ella, Hannah and Bo (all of Westport, MA), Brian Johnson (Dallas, TX), Eric Johnson (Los Altos, TX), and great-grandchildren Sebastian and Penelope Johnson (both of Dallas,TX). Private arrangements are under the direction of the Potter Funeral Home, 81 Reed Rd., WESTPORT, MA 02790. To sign the online guestbook, please visit www.potterfuneralservice.com

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