Rev. Ralph W. Johnson, 86, of North Manchester, Ind., formerly of Astoria, died at 4:05 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27, 1998, at Timbercrest Healthcare Center in North Manchester.
He was born Oct. 30, 1911, in Astoria, the son of Immel and Eva Merrill Johnson. He married Frances Deardorff on Oct. 18, 1936. She survives.
Also surviving are four sons, Vernon Johnson of East Peoria, Alvin Johnson and Stan Johnson, both of Los Angeles, Calif., and Steve Johnson of North Manchester; one daughter, Alice Hildebrand of Lafayette, Ind.; ten grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and one sister, Frances Senger of Astoria.
He was preceded in death by one son and one sister.
He was a member of Lafayette Church of the Brethren in Lafayette.
He was a graduate of Astoria High School. He attended Mount Morris College in Mount Morris. He taught for two years at Good Hope School in Astoria. He received his bachelor of arts degree from WIU. He taught school for four years at Sixteen School in Astoria and one year at Astoria Elementary School. He received a degree in agriculture from the University of Illinois. He taught agriculture, history and drivers education at Beason High School in Beason. He was a pastor of Bethel Church in Charleton, Neb.; Union Ridge Church in Hampton, Iowa; Hickory Grove Church of the Brethren in Pennsville, Ind.; and Rossville Church of the Brethren in Rossville, Ind. He farmed in the Astoria area for 25 years. He retired in 1984 and spent winters in Sebring, Fla.
Services will be at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, at Timbercrest Chapel in North Manchester. Visitation will be two hours prior to the service at the chapel. Local services will be held on Monday, Nov. 2, at 11 a.m. at Shawgo Memorial Home in Astoria. Visitation will be one hour prior to service at the funeral home. Burial will be in Astoria Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Manchester College or Lafayette Church of the Brethren.
Current Obituaries in the Astoria South Fulton Argus