Lyle Robert Johnson

Lyle Robert Johnson was born on October 4, 1920 in De Smet, South Dakota to Olai and Dorothy (Harrison) Johnson. In high school, he won a scholarship through 4-H Club work to South Dakota State University and, while working part-time at the SD Experiment Station, completed three academic years. A year after Pearl Harbor, he enlisted in the army air corps. As part of the Air Weather Service, he was schooled in meteorology and radar and assigned to a research project in the South Pacific. After discharge he did graduate work at the University of Chicago, but was recalled during the Korean engagement to coordinate the installation of a pioneering Univac computer in the Pentagon.

Mr. Johnson worked as a computer specialist at Ford Motor and in software development at Sperry Rand. After joining IBM in 1958, he served in various technical roles and capped his career by co-authoring two volumes that document IBM’s technical contributions to the mainframe computer industry.

Mr. Johnson was preceded in death by his wife, Emily; his sister, Phyllis Taschner; and his brother, Ivon Johnson. He is survived by his children: Eric Johnson of Ocala, Florida and Connie Lewis of Montgomery, Alabama; his grandchildren: Robin Lewis of Washington, DC and Jennifer Lewis of Montgomery; and precious nieces and nephews: Carol Joyce Hurlbert, Joanne Groves, Ardis Taschner, Judy Thiesse, Randy Johnson, Roberta Peterson, Rick Johnson, and Jolynn Kuhn.

A memorial service will be held on March 22, 2015, 2 PM at St. George Anglican Cathedral, 5646 SE 28th St, Ocala, FL 34480. A Celebration of his life will be held in summer 2015 in De Smet, South Dakota.