John T. Johnson Jr.

NEWPORT NEWS - John T. Johnson Jr., 78, went to be with the Lord Monday, Sept. 10, 2001. A native of Carrboro, N.C., he had been a Peninsula resident since 1953. He had retired from the Materials Support Division, Newport News Shipbuilding, after 38 years of service. A veteran of the 3rd Marine Division, U.S. Marine Corps, he had participated in the Battle of Iwo Jima. He was a member of Warwick Memorial United Methodist Church, serving in a variety of capacities, including Lay Leader. He also worked part time in the Williamsburg area. Survivors include his wife, Dorothy Winstead Johnson; daughter, Betsy Gerhardt and her husband, Mark of Chesapeake; son, John T. Johnson III and his wife, Terry Lynn, of Poquoson; sister, Eula Jones of Graham, N.C.; brother, Nello Johnson of Clarkesville; seven grandchildren, Trish Mitchell, Eric Gerhardt, Tracy Harsey, David Johnson, Brandon Rajewski, Bradley Johnson and Melissa Johnson; and two great-grandchildren, Noah Mitchell and Emily Harsey. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 13, at Peninsula Funeral Home. A funeral service will be conducted 11 a.m. Friday at Warwick Memorial United Methodist Church by the Rev. Larry E. Adams and the Rev. Doug Forrester. Burial will follow in Peninsula Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Warwick Memorial United Methodist Church Music Department, 38 Hoopes Road, Newport News, VA 23602.