Obituary of George Ira Johnson

HILLSBOROUGH - Mr. George Ira Johnson, Jr., 85, died Wednesday, October 23, 2013. George graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1945. He was a veteran of the US Navy and served in the Korean War, serving on the U.S.S. Ajax and participating in operation "Passage to Freedom". He worked at Duke Power Company for 36 years where he was branch manager for the last 20 years until he retired. He was a lifelong member of Mars Hill Baptist Church, where he served as chair of the deacons, chair of the cemetery committee, and a long time Sunday School teacher. He was also a past president of the Hillsborough Chamber of Commerce and the Hillsborough Lion's Club. Surviving are his son, George Michael Johnson (Annette), Oregon; two grandchildren: Laura Johnson and Jim Johnson; one brother, Calvin Johnson (Peggy), Cedar Grove; two nieces: Linda Wilson and Mary Sue Anderson. He was predeceased by his parents: Ethel and George Johnson, Sr., his brother, O. C. Johnson, his sister, Virginia J. Wilson and his wife Mollie Smith Johnson. Serving as active pallbearers will be Randy Wilkins, Tommy Frazier, Nathaniel Eubanks, Warren Miller, Joe Campbell, and Bobby Campbell. Honorary pallbearers will be Ethel Stansbury, Teresa Cox, Roxie Wilkins, Katherine Cheek, Euylene Eubanks, Louise Fisher, Carol Moore, Don Blake, John Koonce, Ray Strickland, Helen Strickland, Roy Wilson, Bob Wilson, and Lindy Pendergrass. Funeral services will be held 11 AM Saturday in Walker's Funeral Home of Hillsborough by the Rev. Carl Belcher. Burial will be in Mars Hill Baptist Church Cemetery. Visitation will be 6:30-8:30 PM Friday in the funeral home. www.walkersfuneralservice.com