Rande Karon Johnson

Rande Karon Johnson passed away on Saturday, November 25, 2023 at Walter Reed Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. Rande was born on May 28,1981 to the late Wilberta Johnson and Kip Bolton. Rande was born and raised in Plainfield, NJ, where he graduated from Plainfield High School. After high school, he obtained his associate degree from Columbia College. On January 31, 2002 Rande began his career as a United States Marine, and proudly served for 20 years. He retired as a Staff Sergeant on January 31, 2022. After retiring, Rande began his civilian career at Marine Corps Community Services, where he served as the Information System Security Manager (or as he always said, “the internet police”). Rande’s presence filled the room. When he arrived, you knew, he might yell, he might grab you in a bear hug, he might just walk in, but you always knew when he was there. His laugh, his real laugh, the one where he goes silent and falls on the ground laughing, is contagious, when that laugh came out, everybody laughed. There were so many different sides to him. He had so many different names. Rande, Son, Johnson, Jay, Nephew, Brother, Staff Sergeant, Cousin, Pest, Pestalance, Pest the Analyst, PTA, Pest Man, Randy, honey… Caveman. Each of these titles had a special meaning to him. He loved being a Marine and his Marine brotherhood, he loved his family, he loved his “family,” he loved his Twister brothers and sisters, he loved the former “bird app” Giants twitter community, he loved Space Rhyme, he loved being a son, and he loved being a husband. He poured his passion, energy, and love into each of these groups because he considers each and every person in these groups his family. He might not like you all the time, be he loved you to the core. Rande wanted his life to be celebrated. He wants people to remember him and smile and laugh and tell his story. His legacy is going to live in all of us, because we all have his stories now. Share his smile and share his laughs. Rande is predeceased by his mother Wilberta Denise Johnson and father Kip Bolton. He is survived by his wife Desiree Johnson, his sister, Frankee Bolton, his Uncles, Aunts, and Cousins and his beloved buddy, Otis. A celebration of life for Rande will be held Monday, December 11, 2023 from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM at Mullins & Thompson Funeral Service, Stafford Chapel. His visitation will occur after his Celebration of Life until 12:30 PM. Honors and interment will occur Monday, December 11, 2023 at 1:30 PM at Quantico National Cemetery, 18424 Joplin Rd, Triangle, Virginia 22172.