Robert A. Johnson

Robert Allison Johnson, 95 of Chapin, SC, died on February 2, 2024 at his home in Heritage at Lowman Home in Chapin, SC. He was born on September 8, 1928 in Canandaigua, NY, the son of the late Allison Fisher Johnson and Thelma (Beers) Johnson. He spent his youth in Fairport, New York.

Johnson is survived by his wife of 72 years, Suzanne Stone Johnson and four daughters: Pamela Palmer (Charles) of Goodview, VA; Carol Johnson (Anne Snyder) of Weaverville, NC; Betsy Drye (Dr. Randall) of Chapin, SC and Cindy Mease of Stecoah, NC. Grandchildren are Suzanne Palmer of Lisbon, Portugal, Laura Flippen (Kevin) of Vinton, VA; Matthew Drye (Dr. Jacquelyn) of Hendersonville, NC; and Dr. Alexandra Drye Rabon (Aaron) of Columbia, SC; great-granddaughter, Samantha Flippen of Vinton, VA.

Johnson was a 1950 graduate of Harvard University and held an MBA from Western New England University. He spent his entire business career with the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company in Springfield, MA, from which he retired as Senior Vice President in 1988. Following retirement, he served for four years as Executive Director of the Cooperating Colleges of Greater Springfield. He was a Chartered Life Underwriter. He held leadership positions as a volunteer in several community and charitable organizations. He served in the First Armored Division during the Korean Conflict and observed a nuclear bomb test in Nevada.

He is the author of This Violent Land, a novel of post-Civil War Reconstruction, based on the journals and diaries of his wife’s great grandfather, William Stone. It was published in 2007. Together with his wife, he co-edited Bitter Freedom, the journal of William Stone during his time in the Freedmen’s Bureau, published in 2008. He also authored The Great Buddha Heist, published in 2018. Additionally, Johnson created a podcast series titled Senior Moments with Bob Johnson, based on his life experiences.

Johnson enjoyed boating and writing, but most of all he enjoyed being with his loving wife Suzanne, and their wonderful family. He and his wife traveled extensively in their RV through all of the United States, and traveled nationally and internationally with their family.

His life will be celebrated at a memorial service at The Heritage at Lowman Chapel, 2101 Dutch Fork Road, Chapin, on April 3, 2024 at 1:00 PM. The family will have an interment at a later date in Longmeadow, Massachusetts.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The American Red Cross at PO Box 37839

Boone, IA 50037-0839, https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation.html/ or The Heritage at Lowman, P.O. Box 769, White Rock, SC 29177.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be made at https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/chapin-sc/robert-johnson-11652114