Ray E. Johnson

WEST ALEXANDRIA — Ray Eugene Johnson, 97, of West Alexandria, passed away on June 1, 2025, at his residence surrounded by his loving family and his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Ray was born on July 5, 1927, in Coal Grove, Ohio to the late Floyd and Audrey (Broce) Johnson. He graduated from Coal Grove High School in 1945 and then was drafted into the United States Army, where he became a Tech Sergeant and received the WWII Victory Medal. After being discharged, he was employed by JC Penney, making $25/week. At JC Penney Ray met his future wife, Geraldine Salyer. They were married on April 2, 1949, and they enjoyed over 60 years together before her passing in 2016.

Ray returned to school soon after they were married. He started his college education at Ashland Junior College, courtesy of the GI Bill. With Geraldine's encouragement, they headed to Florida to continue his education at the University of Miami. As they neared their destination, the trip became quite an adventure, with the car's radiator overheating every couple of miles. Ray repeatedly used his hat to scoop water (minnows and all) from ditches to fill the radiator, and they eventually made their way to Coral Gables, Florida. Their stay in Florida lasted a year, as homesickness brought them back to Ohio.

They resettled in Wilmington, and Ray earned his Bachelor's Degree from Wilmington College in 1954 and just in time to welcome their first child, Vanessa, into the world! Ray's first teaching job was in Urbana, at Urbana Elementary School. Ray also worked as a custodian a few hours after school to earn extra money. During their five years in Urbana, Ray and Geraldine's family expanded by three more children, Jeffrey, Christopher, and Lisa.

Their next move was to Lewisburg, as Ray became principal at Lewisburg Elementary School. During this time another daughter, Cynthia, arrived making it a family of seven. Ray also completed his Master's Degree from Ball State University. Ray spent his career as principal at three more locations in Knightstown, Indiana, West Alexandria, Ohio and Richmond, Indiana, before eventually returning to, and retiring as principal of West Alexandria Elementary School in 1984.

Ray was also a high school tennis coach for a number of years and was an avid tennis player until the age of 93 when the COVID-19 restrictions ended his tennis playing days. Ray also enjoyed playing cornhole. In retirement, he also took up dancing with his wife Geraldine and they became quite accomplished dancers. Ray was a member of the Lewisburg Missionary Baptist Church until the time of his wife's passing and then became a member of Community Christian Church in West Alexandria. Everywhere Ray went he ran into someone who knew him and went to school when he was their principal. Some former students even enjoyed recounting their visit(s) to the principal's office during Ray's tenure! He was loved a lot and will be missed tremendously.

Ray is survived by three daughters, Vanessa Garrett, Lisa (Matt) Hanley; Cynthia (Mark) May; two sons Jeff (Virginia) Johnson and Chris (Barbara, deceased) Johnson; five grandchildren: Sophia, Jacob, Erin, Bethany and Jaime; and many great-grandchildren, as well as a sister Marie (Nelson) Smith.

In addition to his parents, Ray was preceded in death by his wife Geraldine, his sister Carol (Kelland) McClellan, and his brother Don (Kathryn) Johnson.

A funeral service will be held at Community Christian Church, 11 Dorsey Akers Drive, West Alexandria, OH 45381 on Friday, June 6, at 11 a.m. Burial with Military Honors will follow at Sugar Grove Cemetery in West Alexandria. Family will receive friends for viewing and visitation from 10am until the time of the service at 11 a.m.

Flowers may be delivered to the church on the day of the service from 8-10 a.m. Memorial contributions may be made in Ray's honor to the church. Services are entrusted to ChurchFunerals Direct.

For additional information and to view Ray's online video tribute, please visit www.churchfuneralsdirect.com.