Michael Robert Johnson

SPARTANBURG, SC-- Michael Robert Johnson, age 68, of 244 East Park Drive, died on Tuesday morning, August 22, 2006 at home after a long illness.A native of Chicago, IL, he was the son of the late Carl George Otto and Lyda Pearl Leeper Johnson. He was a member of St. Johns Lutheran Church and a retired coach, musician, teacher, and headmaster. He was a former coach, senior master, and headmaster at the Spartanburg Day School; adjunct faculty member of Limestone College; instructor at Prairie School; assistant professor at the College of Emporia; instructor at Northern Illinois University; faculty assistant at Wayne State University; graduate assistant at Northern Illinois University; instructor at Ela-Vernon High School; and Palmetto Association of Independent Schools; former chairman of the Central Reviewing Committee for Private Schools of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools; former director of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools; and former member of the South Carolina Secondary Committee of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. He was listed in Whos Who in the South and Southeast, Whos Who Biographical Record, and Outstanding Educators of America. He received the Governors School Teacher Recognition Award. He published many poems, reviews, and articles. He was a graduate of West Chicago Community High School. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Aurora College, and a Master of Arts degree in history from Northern Illinois University. He attended Wheaton College, University of Illinois, Pacific Azusa College, University of Massachusetts, and Clemson University. He played piano and bass in many dance bands and jazz combos. He coached cross country, soccer, basketball, and baseball. He was a 32nd degree Mason.Survivors include his wife, Carole LaVonne Grimes Johnson; a daughter, Jennifer Johnson Stroud of Aberdeen, NC; two sons, Steven Michael Grimes Johnson of Newberry and William (Bill) Thomas Grimes Johnson of Seattle, WA; and three grandchildren.The family will receive friends prior to the service beginning at 10:00 AM.Funeral services will be held on Friday, August 25, 2006 at 11:00 AM at St. Johns Lutheran Church with Reverend R. E. Lybrand, Jr., Vicar Marcia Sumate-Schultz, and Dr. Murray Shaw presiding. Interment will be private.Memorials may be made to The Michael R. Johnson Scholarship Fund of The Spartanburg Day School, 1701 Skylyn Drive, Spartanburg, SC 29307.Condolences may be left for the family at www.lanforddunbar.com.Dunbar Funeral Home& CrematoryPaid Funeral Notice