SFC (Retired) James C. Johnson, Jr. February 03, 1923 – March 17, 2019 Share this obituary Sign Guestbook| Send Sympathy Card A private family graveside service with full military honors for SFC (Retired) James C. Johnson, Jr. will be Friday, March 22, 2019 at Post Cemetery, Fort Sill. Arrangements are under the direction of Becker-Rabon Funeral Home. SFC (Retired) James C. Johnson, Jr., 96, Lawton passed away at his home on Sunday, March 17, 2019.
James was born February 3, 1923 at Fort Sill to MSG (Retired) James C. and Lucille R. (Munford) Johnson, Sr. James Jr. was the eldest child of a family of eight children, seven boys and one girl. Affectionately called “Junior” by his family, James Jr. along with his siblings spent their years growing up at Fort Sill. It was also at Fort Sill that he discovered his first love for horses when as a boy his dad gave him a daily chore each morning of saddling up his horse so he could go to work.
James Jr. would soon learn that his dad’s duty assignment included training horses with young officers stationed on the post. Upon completing his formal education at Lawton Douglass, James Jr. followed in his father’s footsteps and entered the Army on December 3, 1942. Following basic training at Fort Sill, he was assigned where his father was First Sergeant.
With the onset of World War II, tours of duty soon followed that included the Philippines and Japan. On October 31, 1947 while on leave before being shipped out on his second tour of Japan, he married his high school sweetheart, Ivora (Moore) Johnson. Three children were born to this union.
After his second tour in Japan, he returned to the United States, purchased a home in Lawton for his young family and was assigned to the school command at Fort Sill. Additional overseas tours would follow, 1953-1956, Heilbrown, Germany, 1960-1964, Fort Shafter, Hawaii with a tour at Fort Sill in between. After returning from Hawaii in 1964, SFC Johnson served two years at Fort Sill and in August 1966 retired after 24 years of service.
While retired from the military life, James Jr. continued to share a fulfilling life with family, friends and professional acquaintances. He soon accepted a position working at the Lawton Elks Lodge. He not only found it rewarding but flexible for him to maintain his busy lifestyle.
He remained working at the Lawton Elks Lodge until his wife’s failing health necessitated his retirement. “JJ” as he was referred to by members of the Lodge, would be honored by the lodge in 2007 for his 34 years of dedicated service. Often asked about his secret to looking so fit, he often chuckled, and remarked, “Keep Moving!
” He leaves to cherish his memory: two daughters, Linda Johnson Burton and Carolle Johnson both of Lawton, a son, James C. Johnson, III of Cache, six grandchildren, Tiffany Anne Burton, James Burton, III and wife Rachel, Elisa Carolle Burton, Mark Christopher Palmer, Sr. and wife Pamela, Matthew Aaron Palmer and wife Dr. Sharon Palmer, James C. Marrero-Johnson and wife Anna, four great grandchildren, Nova Elise Burton, Mark Christopher, Jr., Orin Samuel Palmer and Soraya “Honeybun” Marrero-Johnson, two brothers, Emmett Johnson and wife Nedra of Lake Charles, Louisiana, Albert Johnson, Sr. and wife Josephine of Lawton, a sister, Lucille Boutte of Lawton and many other nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. SFC (Retired) James C. Johnson, Jr. was preceded in death by his parents, beloved wife of 64 years, Ivora, and four brothers, Dr. Ted Johnson, Jack Johnson, CMSgt (Retired) Robert Johnson and LTC (Retired) Preston Johnson.
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