Ralph O. Johnson

Mr. Johnson, 85, of Charlotte, NC, passed away on Thursday, July 19, 2012 at Presbyterian Hospital. He was born January 26, 1927 in White Oak, SC to the late Ralph O. Johnson, Sr. and Nell Hendricks Johnson.

Ralph O. Johnson, Jr. attended Georgia Tech and Clemson Universities and served in the U.S. Army. In 1951 he married Miriam W. Johnson, and their marriage continued for over 56 years until her passing in 2008. Beginning in 1952 Mr. Johnson was employed as an independent factory representative for several brick and tile companies. In 1975 he formed Masonry Reinforcing Corporation of America and began to manufacture wall reinforcing products on less than one acre inside an 8,000 sq. ft. building. Later, the name of the company changed to Wire Bond. Mr. Johnson continued to actively manage the business until his passing. Thirty-seven years later, the company has grown to two locations (Charlotte, NC and Memphis, TN), 200,000 sq. ft. of buildings on 17 acres of land. There are 200 employees. His son, Ralph Johnson, III and daughter, Kathryn Tyler are officers in the family business.

In addition to his wife, Miriam, Mr. Johnson was preceded in death by a sister, Doris Lee.

Survivors include his daughter, Kathy Tyler and husband Gary; son, Ralph Johnson, III and wife Janet; grandson, Carter Johnson and wife Ellen; granddaughter, Tiffany Tyler; sisters, Eloise Morelli and Carolyn Williams; and brother, William Johnson.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Sharon Presbyterian Church, 5201 Sharon Road, Charlotte, NC 28210 or to Presbyterian Hospice, 324 N. McDowell Street #200, Charlotte, NC 28204.

The family would like to thank the Presbyterian Hospital nurses on 6C and Presbyterian Hospice.

A service to celebrate the life of Ralph O. Johnson, Jr. will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, July 23, 2012 at Sharon Presbyterian Church. The family will receive friends following the service in the Charles Little Building.