William Ideson Johnson

Waverly The Reverend Dr. William Ideson Johnson, 98, passed peacefully into eternity from Bristol Village in Waverly, Ohio on May 9, 2025. He is survived by his sons Robert (wife Sharon) and Paul (wife Margaret), eleven grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren, as well as many other dear relatives and friends. He is predeceased by his wife Shirley Kenan Johnson, his daughter Linda Melton, and his son Mark Johnson.

Visitation will be from 11 to 1 pm on Saturday, May 17, 2025 at Boyer Funeral Home in Waverly, Ohio followed there by a funeral at 1 pm, a graveside service, and a gathering at Bristol Village's Glenn Center.

Rev. Johnson ("Bill" to most of his family and friends) was born in Dayton, Ohio. After his father died when he was six years old, he grew up with his mother Louise and his brother Robert (Bob) in Cincinnati. He joined the Army after high school and served in Europe as a Staff Sergeant in the 351st Infantry.

He subsequently earned his B.S. at the University of Cincinnati, his B.D. at McCormick Seminary, his M.Ed. in Religious Education at the University of Pittsburgh, and his Ph.D. in Adult Education at The Ohio State University. He was on the pastoral staff of seven different churches in Minnesota, Ohio, Indiana, and Pennsylvania, finally retiring as Senior Pastor at Mount Lebanon Presbyterian Church near Pittsburgh. Afterwards, he served as interim pastor at a couple of churches in Michigan before he and Shirley finally moved to the Bristol Village retirement community in 1991. For most of his pastoral career, Bill led church work camps with high school and college youth, spanning the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Bahamas.

Bill met his wife Shirley at McCormick Seminary, where she was studying to be a social worker. Bill sold his Harley Davidson to have enough money to buy her a wedding ring. They served together as pastor and pastor's wife for 52 years, then ministered to many in Bristol Village for the rest of their lives together. Retirement years included many Elderhostel trips worldwide and Scamp camping in Florida during the winter times.

Bill and Shirley visited many relatives on family vacations with their four children growing up. They camped all over the continental United States and into Canada. Bill and Shirley always delighted in visits from their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and other family and friends. Family reunions were especially joyful to them.

If he were here with us today, he might ask you how you and your family were doing, how your garden was growing, and how he could get more shelves for his books.

Bill was always looking for something new and challenging. Some of his avocations over the years included singing (in choirs since high school), African violets, tropical fish, Karmann Ghia cars, winemaking, beekeeping, flying and teaching others to fly, painting, genealogies, and turning wooden bowls. When in Mount Lebanon, he built a KR-2 single-engine airplane in his garage.

Bill's family and friends are all very thankful for his many years and for the blessings he bestowed on those who got to know him. He will be getting an eternal reward for serving His Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and His bride the Church.

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