Charles M. Johnson died peacefully on June 14, 2018 at age 95 with his family by his side. He was born in Kansas City in 1923 and graduated from Central High School in 1941, when he was drafted into the Army for service during WWII. He was assigned to an engineering battalion as a platoon Sergeant and saw active duty in the European theater from 1943-1946. He became a commissioned active duty Army officer, 2nd Lieutenant, in 1948 and was stationed in Germany where he became a supply officer, receiving commendation for his work with German civilian and American military personnel rebuilding the German republic after the war. He attended the Ordnance School at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland in 1953 and served as an Ordnance Officer for the remainder of his military career. He received the prestigious Army Commendation Medal from the Secretary of the Army for meritorious service and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel while serving with the Procurement and Production Directorate at Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois from 1965-1967. He received a second Commendation Medal in 1969 and was promoted to full rank of Colonel while serving as Commander, Southern European Task Force, Supply and Maintenance Group in Vicenza, Italy.
Upon retirement from the Army he became Commissioner of Purchases and Supplies for the City of Kansas City serving in that position from 1974-1992. Along with the Purchasing Management Association of Kansas City and the Missouri Association of Public Purchasing, he was instrumental in adopting a B.S.B.A. Purchasing/Materials Management Degree program at Rockhurst University in Kansas City, where he also served as part-time instructor. In 1983 he received the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing Distinguished Service Award as a purchasing professional of national distinction. He is survived by his wife of 72 years Sally, sons Daniel and Timothy Johnson; grandchildren Justin and Sean Johnson and Stacey Austin; great grandchildren Lucian and Zoe Montgomery and Reagan and Reese Johnson; a brother, Gregory Johnson and a sister, Barbara Bagley. Funeral Service is on Sunday, June 24 at 3:00pm St Andrew’s Episcopal Church 6401 Wornall Terrace Kansas City, Mo 64113. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to St. Andrew’s www.standrewkc.org. Condolences may be expressed at mtmoriah.net.
