Burton J. Johnson of Oklahoma City passed away on January 7, 2020 at the age of 99. He was born in Providence, Rhode Island where his parents owned a bakery, a horse and a buggy delivery. Burt’s father passed away when he was 3 years old. His mother remarried and the family moved to Arkansas at age 7, where the family homesteaded 160 acres at Fox. They later bought 80 more acres of adjoining land, now named after his mother “Whipple Lane”.
At age of 18, Burt joined the Army at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma in the 1st Field Artillery. He was assigned to the Provost Marshals Office to head-up the Motorcycle unit for Traffic Control. A year later he was sent to Ft. Bening, Georgia to OCS school to become an officer. At Ft. Riley, KS the Provost Marshal Corp was formed and he became an Instructor for Military Police. Burt served his Active Duty in the South Pacific during WWII, where he was in charge of organizing and supervising the POW Japanese camps in New Guinea. He was then assigned to Gen. McArthur’s staff to ready for the invasion of Japan. After the “A Bombs” were dropped the War ended and Burt returned to Oklahoma and served as a Reserve Officer.
In 1953 Burt ended his military life as a Major in the Army. Burt began his Law career in 1950 in OKC, Dallas, and New York as an Insurance Adjuster. He returned to OKC in 1960, where he became a partner to Looney, Nichols and Johnson until his retirement in 2011 after practicing Law for 60 plus years.
He was a member of MOWW, Masonic Order, Elder of reorganized Church of Latter Day Saints, Rotary, OK Bar Assoc., past Pres. Of Defense Research Institute, OADC (which he helped form), IADC, FDCC, and ABA.
Burt was preceded in death by his beloved wife Francis of 58 years in 1999 and his son Joseph C. Johnson who passed in 2019.
Burt is survived by his wife, Louise B. Johnson of the home; his children, George and Barbara, John and Carrie Blumenthal, Sam and Sarah Blumenthal. Burt leaves a legacy of 21 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
A special thank you to Centennial Hospice for their care and support. Thank you to the VA Center, Norman.
A visitation will be held on Thursday, January 9, 2020 from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Chapel Hill Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be held on Friday, January 10, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. at Chapel Hill Funeral Home, 8701 N.W. Expressway, Oklahoma City, OK, interment at Bethany Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the VA in Norman or Gary Sinise Foundation.
