Charles Dale Johnson

Chuck was known to his family and friends as “Charles”, “Charley”, then “Chuck.” His life was well-lived, from October 24, 1936 in Pittsburg, Kansas, until September 27, 2021 in Torrance, California. He and his younger brother, Paul, grew up with their parents on their grandfather’s farm. When the boys were in elementary school, they moved to San Fernando where Dad was a mechanic on oil rigs in the area. “Charley” was a born athlete, excelling in tetherball and kickball. He would spend afternoons with brother and two girl-cousins biking and swinging from pepper tree to pepper tree like “Tarzan.” Mother loved to read aloud at bedtime with favorite bible stories. The family built a new home in Newhall where Charley entered high school. Basketball became his passion- his long arms and legs and high jump helped him to easily dunk the ball. Basketball practices filled his afternoons while on the Junior and Senior varsity teams. The highlight of his senior year came when Charley made the winning basket during the last game of the year, and his team hoisted him up for a “Victory Lap” around the gym!

His basketball talent landed him a one-year scholarship to George Pepperdine College, a small Christian school at 79th and Vermont in Los Angeles.  He chose business as his major, and a Psychology minor. Charley’s favorite activities were partying with dorm-mates and taking co-eds to the nearby Vermont Drive-in. When the basketball scholarship ended, Charley worked at many part-time jobs in sales at nearby businesses, acquiring valuable “on-the-job business skills.” His Standard gas station gig earned him “Salesman of the Year” award. Charley and buddies moved from the dorm to a wonderful four-bedroom house near campus. He became the “Resident Manager,” paying the bills and having roommates follow the rules.

“Real Estate" proved to be his best choice on a career test administered at the end of senior year, 1960. After graduation he joined Taft Allen Real Estate in Inglewood.  The seasoned realtors and the Boss became mentors and close friends to the new recruit. Their guidance paid off when Charley made his first big sale!

Johnnie Longden, a jockey at the nearby Hollywood Park Race Track, won the big 5th Race and presented a suitcase full of cash to buy a house from Charley! Two innovations Charley made during his career were: “The Farm System” still used today, and the catchy phrase, “Condo in Redondo.”

After work, he would visit the YMCA to play “pick-up ball” with friends. As luck would have it, the LA Lakers also practiced there near their home court, The Forum. They invited Charley to join them, but he had a challenging player guarding him from shooting any balls! That player turned out to be Jerry West!

Charley and brother Paul began double-dating two young ladies from England, Pat and Margaret.   They enjoyed such night spots as ‘The Coconut Grove.”  The brothers both married their “dates.” Charley and Pat moved to a house in Inglewood.  In 1965, they welcomed a baby girl named “Karen.”  Charley would often take the duty (pleasure?) of changing the baby’s diaper and rocking her to sleep.  Eventually, the long hours at work took their toll, and the couple divorced. But Charley continued to encourage his father/daughter bond: he bought Karen a pony and they spent many afternoons at the stable, where Karen became a fine horsewoman.

‘Chuck” met his future wife, Janet Wray, in 1986, when he orchestrated a complicated “1031 Exchange” from a house in Encino to a Tri-Plex in old Torrance. The couple, with many things in common, began to date, enjoying many fun adventures like Cirque du Soleil and decorating the Century 21 Rose Parade float.

On July 13, 1991 they married and moved into Chuck’s 4-Plex he bought in 1977. After the honeymoon in Napa Valley Wine Country, they did a lot of traveling to Seattle and Canada, New York and New Orleans, many visits to daughter Karen’s cattle ranch in Huntsville, Texas and to Italy for a three-week tour.  Many family trips were to Catalina, Disneyland, Galveston, San Antonio, and the Disney cruise to Mexico.

Daily life in Redondo Beach became more and more challenging for Chuck. He fell a lot and had trouble walking. A caregiver was hired for three days a week until more care was needed for Chuck. Both moved in September 2020 to “Oakmont of Torrance” with Chuck in “Memory Care” where he got all the services he needed.

Janet continued as his “Case Manager.” Check became the favorite of all his caregivers, with his jokes and happy personality. Chuck enjoyed many happy memories in hi last year at Oakmont. Janet was grateful to be living so close to her husband, her partner, her love. Chuck passed away in his sleep of natural causes on September 27, 2021.

Everyone will miss his daily joking with staff, his persistence to do his therapy, and his caring reminder when you left him; he would always say, “Be Careful!”.

Karen Johnson Paschal, his loving daughter, shares some of her fondest memories of her “Dad.”

Going on long walks in the neighborhood

Going to Grandma’s house

Driving up to Grandma’s because my Dad let me take the wheel and drive up the canyon

Playing Pinochle every time we went to Grandma’s

Eating because my Dad loved it so much especially at my Grandma’s house

Watching my Grandma “spoil” my Dad because he loved her so much

Getting up at 4:30 am to go fishing with my Dad and Grandpa and trolling for trout on Lake Piru

Shooting guns with my Dad and Grandpa

Playing arcade games at Redondo Pier

Picking out crabs on the Pier and then cooking and eating them.

Eating lunch at Ruby’s or other diners he loved

The stables where I got my first pony, Cricket, and horse, Rosie

Going to the movies and eating Mexican food with my Dad

His smile and laughter, especially when trying to tell a joke

When he called me Speedy Gonzales

Watching him with my kids

Playing Pig around the dinner table with my kids

Listening to him telling jokes and watching him “crack up”

Knowing he was always there for me