Ronald Johnson, 70, of Middleburg, FL, passed away to eternal life on February 20, 2023. He was born January 16, 1953 in Columbus, OH to the late Paul Johnson and Janet (Shoemaker) Johnson. Ron spent his early years milking cows on his parents’ farm. He was a 1971 graduate of Tri-Valley High School and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps that same year; he crossed the graduation stage and was immediately swept off to boot camp. He was stationed at the US Embassy in Guatemala, where he met his wife of 48 years, Gloria (Chacon) Johnson. There, his sense of adventure beckoned, and sometimes led him into trouble. He was once concussed by a flying piece of debris while hiking an erupting volcano. Ron retired after 23 years of service, spanning stints in Virginia, Alabama, Georgia, Hawaii, North Carolina and Florida, as well as multiple trips abroad to Japan, Panama and Mexico. His friends and colleagues in Florida will remember him as a skilled and reliable handyman and dedicated jack-of-all-trades who traveled across the Southeast organizing farm and industrial auctions. He was an avid reader, digital paint-by-numbers aficionado and nutcracker collector. A lover of Westerns, he could recite Big Jake by heart and never missed a John Wayne marathon. Ron is preceded by his parents and his brother, PD Johnson. He is survived by his wife, Gloria; his children, Dawnielle Jacobson (Wayne) and Michelle Johnson; his sisters, Beckie Yinger and Jodi Ryan; and a garage containing three of every tool in existence, which were never on hand when needed. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, March 27, 2023 at HighPoint Community Church, 84 Knight Boxx Rd, Orange Park, FL, led by Pastor Mike Hailey. Family members invite all in attendance to a reception following the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ron’s honor to Middleburg-Clay Hill Friends of the Library (2245 Aster Avenue, Middleburg, FL 32068).
