John Herman

Johnson

John Herman Johnson, age 89, of Buckhannon, WV and formerly of Hollister, CA died on Wednesday, January 17, 2024, at the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center in Clarksburg, WV. He was born on June 20, 1934, in Mesa, Arizona, son of the late Ruben and Gladys Winters Johnson. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Virginia "Ginny" Johnson; one son, William "Bill" Johnson; one brother, Robert "Bob" Johnson; and two sisters: Dorothy "Dot" Garner and Marian Demos.

He is survived by one daughter, Karen and husband Danny Zanella of Hollister, CA; one son, John Michael Johnson of Spotsylvania, VA; two grandsons; Kevin and wife Andrea Zanella of Eagle, Idaho and Dominic and wife Brittney Zanella of Hollister, CA; two great grandchildren; Zoë and Declan Zanella; and two step grandsons, Joshua Torres and Brandt Sherman.

He was united in marriage on May 13, 2002, to Helen Summers, who survives him in Buckhannon, WV. He is also survived by two stepdaughters: Tia Verches and husband William Bluhm of Ben Lomond, CA and Sara Verches of San Leandro, CA; one stepson, Ramon and wife Holly Verches of Ashland, KY; and one step granddaughter, Mylie Bluhm.

John was very proud of his military service. He enlisted in the Air Force at the age of 17 and was sworn in on July 4th, 1951.  He was stationed in numerous states and also England. John worked in base hospitals in the physical therapy and orthopedics departments. He  was the first enlisted person in the Air Force to pass the civilian test to become a registered Physical Therapy Assistant.

While stationed at Sheppard AFB in Texas, he taught the physical therapy specialist course which he helped create to incoming airmen. His last assignment was at the Air Force Academy in Colorado as the NCOIC in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery department where he retired after 24 years of service as a senior master sergeant.

After retirement he moved to Hollister where he worked with his brother Bob at a wrecking yard and then a radiator shop.

He then began working as an EMT for Stephens & Poletti Ambulance Service, eventually becoming the operations manager before moving to West Virginia.

He was a member of the Buckhannon Moose Lodge #598 and the Buckhannon Elks Lodge #1736. He loved woodworking, classic cars, motorcycle trail riding, and boating. He enjoyed weekends away at the Delta on his wooden Chris Craft cabin cruiser, the Rusty Nail.