Warren Bradley Johnson

Warren Bradley Johnson was born July 6, 1927 in Portland, Maine to Carl Selwyn and Elizabeth Bradley Johnson. His mother fell ill and died soon after his birth, and Carl re-married. Warren worked in the family independent grocery and made deliveries. He enlisted in the U.S. Merchant Marine, and as World War II concluded, his ship steamed to South Pacific islands such as Guam and Tinian, where he helped deal with materiel and ordnance being shipped back to the States. He would tell the story of an officer who attempted to smuggle a dismantled jeep on their ship bound for San Francisco.

Along with a friend, Harold Miller, Warren sought his fortune in West Texas, but he would visit Fort Worth on the weekends to enjoy the big city sights. One such sight was a beautiful, spirited brunette named Oleane Lynch. Uncle Sam delayed their planned nuptials when Warren was drafted into the U.S. Army and sent to Paris, France. While overseas, Oleane’s influence helped lead Warren to accept Christ as his Savior, and he was baptized by the chaplain in a river (in Seine?). They finally married on April 24, 1951, and moved to Snyder, Texas. Returning to the Metroplex, they lived on Bennett Dr. in Arlington, next to Second Baptist Church, where a fellow member suggested Warren apply for a union job at American Can Company. They moved to a larger house on Randolph St. and lived there for 65 years, raising their three sons.

Warren worked every possible shift and lots of overtime as a Quality Control Supervisor, but the company was sold, and Warren retired at 57. He then devoted his life to serving his church as deacon, generously helping those in need, caring for and building onto the house, excelling as a loving, helpful Dad and Papaw, and walking with his beloved “Oley.”

Warren is preceded in glory by his wife, Oleane, his parents, and by sister Marguerite Gray, and is survived by sister Sylvia Nickels, and sons Carl, Kurt and wife Julie, and Keith and wife JoLynn. Grandchildren include Chad and wife Sadie, Matt and wife Brittany, Kaylan Branson and husband Kyle, Miles and Sierra Sullivan, Abby, and Autry. His great-grandchildren are Marlie, Lecil, Charlotte, Hallie, Hayes, Raylan, and Rawley.