Walter F. Johnson, Jr., of Columbus GA, passed away peacefully at home on December 10, after battling Parkinson's Disease and related illnesses. A service in his memory will be held at St. Luke Church at 1:30 PM December 16, 2025. He is survived by his beloved wife of fifty-six years, Emily Waldrep Johnson, daughter Stacey Johnson Stone, son in law, David Stone, and grandson, Cameron Stone. Other surviving relatives include his sister, Nancy Johnson Coburn, her husband, Roland Coburn, and his niece Ginger Fennell. Walter was pre-deceased by his beloved son, Brian Walter Johnson, his parents Walter F. Johnson, Sr. and Marjorie Carnathan Johnson, and two cousins (who were like brothers), Dr. James H. Johnson, Jr. and William Morris Johnson.
Walter graduated from Georgiana High School (in Georgiana, AL) in 1963. He received a degree in Business Administration from Auburn University in 1968, and completed his law degree at Cumberland School of Law in 1973. He was a private practice attorney for over fifty years, and was highly regarded by the legal community. He was loved and admired by clients, known for his accuracy and honesty.
Walter had an intense love of football beginning in high school. His passion carried over to Auburn football as a season ticket holder of over two decades. His son and daughter both shared this dedication to Auburn football, having fond memories of game days on The Plains. His love of fishing began at the Railroad Pond across from his grandmother's house and at family homes in Baldwin County, Alabama. He owned his own pond there and spent many hours fishing with his son and he also enjoyed boat fishing and time at the beach. His other hobbies included genealogy, travel, working out, target shooting, religion, and novel writing. Most notably, he loved dogs and had a passion for the Shetland Sheepdog (Sheltie) breed, owning them from the time his children were young. He passed this intense love on to his daughter, who has been involved with Shetland Sheepdog rescue ever since. Walter also served six years in the Alabama National Guard and was a life-long member of the Methodist church.
In addition to or in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation or National Shetland Sheepdog Rescue.
