Charles Estel Johnson

Born February 22, 1933, in rural southern Ohio, and raised on a working farm near the Kentucky border, he escaped poverty at age seventeen like so many others of his generation, by running away and joining the military. In his later years, he was never more animated than when reminiscing about his time in the U.S. Air Force, the different places he'd been stationed and the fascinating people he'd met on his travels.

During his first tour in Germany, Charlie met a German girl from Heide, a small town near the North Sea. She was accompanying her best friend who happened to be dating his best friend. The introduction blossomed into romance, and at every opportunity he would drive from his duty station to Heide to be with her. Ever the polite young airman, Charlie was embraced by her family, and they were soon married. She subsequently left her quiet, north German home to join him in exploring the world; from the exotic marketplaces of Japan to the country stores of rural Ohio. Their young lives were a shared adventure. And along the way, the two became a family of four.

All good things come to an end, and after multiple tours to Germany, Charlie decided to settle with his family in Oklahoma; retiring from Tinker AFB and spending most of the rest of his life finding ways to help others as best he could. Whether it was regularly volunteering at an Oklahoma City shelter or routinely providing assistance to those who were down on their luck, Charlie was happiest when he was helping those in need. And all too often, when the System couldn't provide assistance, those working in the system would ask Charlie for his help. He gave it without hesitation. In fact, Charlie often opened his home to the homeless. It was his measure of a life well-lived.

Charlie is survived by his wife, Elke, his daughter, Tina, his son, Sven and wife Lauren, his grandson, Keith and wife Meredith, and his great-grand daughters Vanessa and Claire. He leaves behind numerous friends and an honorary family member, Katherine, who returned his kindness by generously helping the family during his final days.

He will be missed.