Obituary of T. Warner Johnson

T. Warner Johnson of Horton Road, Jamestown, NY, went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Wednesday, February 19, 2014. He was born in Buffalo, NY on January 25, 1925, the son of Courtney Warner Johnson and Cecelia Corbran Johnson. He was preceded in death by Joy Trimm Johnson, his wife of 64 years, who passed away on December 5, 2007. Warner was a graduate of Jamestown High School and later attended Jamestown Community College. During World War II, he received jump training at Camp Mackall, NC. He was a member of the 17th Airborne Division (parachute and glider troops) seeing combat during Operation Varsity when he flew in a glider across the Rhine River into Germany. He was awarded a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for valor as part of these operations. He also fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Other awards include the European African and Middle Eastern Campaign ribbon with three battle stars, the Copper Arrowhead for spear-heading, the Combat Infantry Badge, the WWII Victory Medal, the American Campaign Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal. He attended many reunions of the 17th Airborne. He was a journeyman sheet metal worker and was a member of the Sheet Metal Workers' Local 112. He worked for Jamestown Blower Company for 40 years, and after retirement he worked for his son as a senior consultant for Johnson Air Design, Inc. Warner was a long-time member of Bethel Baptist Church where he served as a trustee, captain of Christian Service Brigade, a member of the building committee, and many other positions. Later in life, he was a member of The Family Church of the Southern Tier. He was a Ham radio operator (NI2K) with the highest rating and enjoyed communicating with other Ham operators all over the world. Warner was known throughout the community for his kind and gentle nature and loved by all he met. He was a devoted husband and a loving and patient grand-father and great grandfather. He loved traveling, spending time with family and friends, and listening to good music. He was pre-deceased by his parents, a brother, Sherwood Johnson, and a sister, Virginia Johnson Peterson. He is survived by his son, Lorrelle (Sharon) Johnson, and two daughters, Vaughn (Randy) Wilson and Michelle (Tim) Stahlman, all of Jamestown; six grandsons: Scott and Aaron Johnson, Jason and Timothy Stahlman, Shawn Proctor, and Kerry Wilson; four granddaughters: Leigh Juul, Shannon Krater, Kara Proctor, and Jennifer Runge; ten great-grandchildren: Jared and Adrienne Krater, Joy Moore, Alex and Matthew Runge, Lillian Johnson, Eliana and Samuel Juul, and Timothy and Michael Stahlman. He is also survived by his sister, Lorraine Swan, and his loving and devoted companion, Maxine Ryder. A celebration of life service will be conducted by his grandson, Pastor Timothy Stahlman, at The Family Church of the Southern Tier, Garfield Road, Jamestown, NY, at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, February 25, 2014. The committal service will be held at 3 p.m. at Lakeview Cemetery. Friends will be received in the Lind Funeral Home on Monday, February 24th, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m.