Bobby Lee Johnson

Bobby Lee Johnson, age 85, of 1111 Main Street, Apartment 305 (Stratford House), died on Sunday, July 22, 2018, at SOVAH Danville after a decline in health. He was born on April 7, 1933, in Danville, and he was the son of late Irvin Thomas Johnson Sr. and Irene Shelton Johnson. He was married to Hattie Mae Pruitt Johnson on May 23, 1953. She predeceased him on May 26, 2005. He was a lifelong resident of the city except for the four years that he served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War aboard the U.S.S. Jeffers, a Destroyer Minesweeper. He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, Navy Occupation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Overseas Service Medal, United States Navy Commemorative Medal and the Cold War Victory Commemorative Medal. He was a charter member of the U.S.S. Jeffers Reunion Group, and a Charter member of the United States Navy Memorial, Washington, D. C., and he has been a member of American Legion Post # 325 since 1977. He was also life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #647, a member of Poquoson Tribe #124 Order of Red Men. Bobby worked for the City of Danville Fire Department, retiring as Captain of No. 5 Station in 1990, after thirty-three years of service. He was a life member of the International Association of Fire Fighters. He received the Firefighter of the Year Award in 1990 by the Virginia Firefighters Magazine, and also received the VFW Citizen Loyalty Day Award. In January 1994, the Gretna Volunteer Fire Department awarded him the First Honorary Membership of the Department. He served on the Board of the Danville Life Saving Crew for several years and as President of the Board from 1995 to 1997. He was awarded an Honorary Life Membership in 1997. He was an active member of Third Avenue Congregational Christian Church. He served on the Boards of Finance, Trustees and Usher Board for a number of years and also was a member of the Young at Heart Senior Club. He is survived by two sons, Robert Keith Johnson and his wife, Kelly, and Richard Alan Johnson and his wife, Jamie; granddaughter, Charlotte Johnson Melton and her husband, Robert; a great-grandson, Robert "Bobby" Douglas Melton; and a great-granddaughter, Samantha Laine Melton, all of Danville. In addition to his family, he is survived by a special friend, Charlene G. Owen. In addition to his parents and wife, he was also predeceased by a daughter-in-law, Melody Lewis Johnson; and his brother, Irvin T. Johnson Jr. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, July 25, 2018, at 11 a.m. from St. Luke's United Methodist Church with the Reverend Frederick J. Vicks and the Reverend Susan M. Hannah officiating. Interment will follow in Highland Burial Park. Military Honors will be presented by the United States Navy Honor Guard and American Legion Dan River Post #1097. Pallbearers will be the Danville Fire Department Honor Guard. The family will receive friends at St. Luke's United Methodist Church on Tuesday, July 24, 2018, from 6 to 8 p.m. and at other times will be at the residence of Alan Johnson, 223 Springfield Road, Danville, VA 24540. The family respectfully requests that in lieu of flowers, that donations be made to the Veterans Memorial at Dan Daniel Park, P.O. Box 1039, Danville, VA 24543. Townes Funeral Home and Crematory, 215 West Main Street, will be serving the Johnson family. Online condolences may be directed to www.townesfuneralhome.com.