Obituary of H. Wilbur Johnson

H. Wilbur "Bill" Johnson, the former postmaster of Jamestown, NY, for fourteen years and currently residing in Williams Bay, WI, passed quietly in his sleep on Wednesday morning, August 9, at the age of 92. He was the son of Harry E. and Elsie Olson Johnson and a graduate of Jamestown High School in the Class of 1943 having received a 2-month deferment from the draft.

Bill served for two and a half years in the US Navy in the South and North Pacific Ocean, including a short time under Russian command in the Aleutian Islands aboard the USS Astute, an auxiliary minesweeper. A true native son, however, when the Russian crew encouraged him to return with them to the Soviet Union with a cryptic, "Beel. Vladivostok", Bill replied, "Nyet, Bill. Jamestown!".

On returning to his hometown, he started working at the post office in the middle of a winter snowstorm in 1947 and many co-workers wondered if he would ever return after that treacherous first day. But he returned with determination that led to a thirty-three and a half year career culminating in his appointment by Lyndon Johnson as postmaster in 1966. He retired in 1980 after fourteen years in that position. He enjoyed camping, sailing, woodworking, traveling, reading and family times. He and Virginia lived for 43 years in the home he built near Allen Park until they moved to Wisconsin in 1999.

Bill's Christian faith was an important part of his life that he communicated not just through word but through deed. In Jamestown he was a long-time member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church where he served as Treasurer, Deacon, taught Sunday School and served on multiple committees. He was an active member of Gideons International in both the Jamestown and Walworth County Camps for over 50 years. While in Jamestown, he served on the Lutheran Retirement Home Board when they merged with the G.A. Home to form what became Lutheran Social Services. He was a member of Grace Evangelical Free Church in Walworth, Wisconsin.

Having been a Boy Scout in his youth, Bill had a lifelong love of scouting. He served as the first scoutmaster of Troop 63 at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church before his son was old enough to join and continued after his son had left the troop. He served on various district committees and was the scoutmaster for the Chautauqua County Troop that attended the National Jamboree in Idaho in 1969. His dedication to scouting was best demonstrated by the fact that when he only had two weeks of vacation annually, he used one of them to take his troop to Camp Merz. His last week at Camp Merz was with a troop of scouts with special needs sponsored by the Optimist Club.

He was a member of various social clubs over the years including The National Association of Retired Federal Employees Chapter 267, VFW Post 53, the Fenton Historical Society, the Roger Tory Peterson Institute, the U.S. Navy Memorial, the Lakeland Audubon Society, Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce, Optimist Club, the Jamestown Silver Blades Skating Club, the Christian League for the Handicapped Jamestown Chapter, and JHS Class of '43 Alumni serving as treasurer for many years.

He is survived by the true love of his life, Virginia Archer Johnson of Conewango, NY, whom he married November 19,1948 (celebrating 68 years together) and who was with him on his passing; a son, Gary P. Johnson (Luana Josvold) of Mattapoisett, MA, a daughter, Marta J. (Tim) Schnake of Williams Bay, WI; four grandchildren: Berit Johnson (Ian Hill) of Brooklyn, NY, Caleb (Celena) Schnake of Indianapolis, IN, Hannah (Austin) Branson of Dunlap, IL, and Jacob Schnake of Fontana, WI; and five great grandchildren: Evangelyn, Josiah and Abigail Schnake and Asher and Shane Branson. He is also survived by brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law and many nieces, nephews and cousins and had plenty of love for everyone. He was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Elsie Johnson and his sister, Beverly Fagerstrom.

Family and friends are invited to the visitation at Lind Funeral Home on Sunday, September 3, from 3pm to 7pm. The Funeral Service will be held on Monday, September 4 at 10:30 am at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Jamestown, NY. Burial will be at Lake View Cemetery. A Memorial Service will be held at Grace Evangelical Free Church in Walworth, WI, on Sunday, September 17, at 2pm. You may leave a condolence or remembrance for Bill's family at www.lindfuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: Gideons International, Grace Evangelical Free Church or the Mattapoisett Land Trust.