Gary Wallace "Kingston" Johnson

1942 - 2022

Gary Wallace "Kingston" Johnson
April 16, 1942 - April 11, 2022
Orangevale , California - Celebration of Life
October 22nd, 2022
8320 Crossoak Way
Orangevale, CA
12:30-4:30 pm
Colorado date, TBD
After a short illness, Gary passed away peacefully at Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Roseville, California.
He was born and raised in Longmont, Colorado. Preceding in death are his mother and father Dorothy and Marvin Johnson. He leaves behind his son Eric Johnson and wife Jessica, along with his significant other, Sonja Fair. Gary has a surviving sister Gail Harmon and husband Al Harmon, as well as his nieces and nephews Jeff, Don, Linda, Susie and families.
While growing up, Gary was involved in Boy Scouts and DeMolay. At Longmont High school he was on the wrestling team and was a drummer for the school band. He worked with his father who owned a gasoline business. As a result, he told many anecdotal stories about delivering gas to the local farmers and working in the town's auto shop. In the summertime he drove a combine on his uncle's wheat farm.
Gary graduated from Mesa Junior College and then earned his Bachelor of Science degree in education at the Arizona State College (now Northern Arizona University) and he was affiliated with Sigma Nu Fraternity.
He relocated to Sacramento, California in 1966 and taught history and geography for many years in the Grant Joint Union School District. He earned his Master's Degree in counseling at the University of La Verne and counseled in the district for a number of years. Thereafter, he taught adult education.
Gary met the love of his life, Sonja Fair, while teaching in the Grant School District where they worked together for several years. This was the beginning of their beautiful love story. Sonja was an avid traveler. She influenced Gary to experience in "real life" the historical and geographical localities he had included in his many teaching lessons.
Together they traveled to every continent on the planet. He had thousands of stories to tell and thousands of photographs to share.
Gary and Sonja had a love for animals. Gary found his best friend in a pet dog named Repo. Repo was named "Repo" because he and Sonja found him abandoned in a repossessed house along with "his" very own Official Certificate of Registration. Sonja and Repo were Gary's true soulmates.
Gary had a huge heart; he was an amazing father, adoring companion, unwavering friend, inspiring family member and an electrifying educator. Not to be forgotten; he was a rip-roaring animal lover, rousing neighbor, and mind-bending counselor. He had a bottomless well of knowledge, compassion and love. He will be remembered and truly missed. We love you, Gary!