Oscar William Johnson, Jr., known to friends and colleagues as Bill, and to family as Corky, passed away peacefully at 2:00AM on Friday, April 3, 2026. He is survived by his wife Darlene Andrews Johnson, daughter Dr. Cynthia Johnson Brooks, her husband Dr. Richard Brooks, and son Dr. Jeffrey Johnson. He is also survived by his sister Dorothy Moline and brother- and sister-in-law Joe and Jill Andrews.
Born to Oscar William Johnson, Sr. and Freda Madora Grammer Johnson on June 18, 1935, in Caldwell, Kansas. Oscar Jr. lost his father the following autumn and was raised by his mother and four older sisters: Marian, Lurley, Freda, and Dorothy. He earned a Master’s degree in physics at the University of Missouri at Rolla, where his father completed a degree in mine engineering and joined the Army Corps of Engineers a generation earlier. He married Darlene Andrews on October 22, 1961, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, after converting to Orthodox Christianity. He was a devoted member of St. Elijah Eastern Orthodox Church for many years, serving on the Church Board, teaching Sunday school, assisting in the kitchens during the Church’s annual Lebanese food fair, and offering free tutoring in math. After turning down job offers from the petro-chemical private sector, he embarked on a career in education, eventually becoming an inaugural member of the sciences faculty at the opening of Rose State College where he taught for over thirty years before his retirement.
To balance life in Oklahoma City, he maintained a farmstead of over 100 acres near Davenport, Oklahoma, where he cultivated native grasses, built bird houses to revive the local bluebird population, and oversaw three ponds for family and friends who liked to fish. His careful stewardship of the land aimed not only to support the native ecology but also to provide a beautiful environment to welcome family, friends, and colleagues for holidays and reunions. Never one to be the center of attention, nevertheless, few things gave him greater pleasure than to host a long weekend’s gathering for summer vacations and Thanksgivings: bonfires, hayrides and tractor rides, stargazing, bird-watching, card games, storytelling and reminiscing brought together three generations of his extended family. “Uncle Corky’s farm” made possible the memories that will keep his legacy of love and generosity alive.
Our family would like to thank the caring staff at Concordia. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to “Flowers That Do Not Wither,” at St. Elijah Orthodox Christian Church, 15000 North May Ave., Oklahoma City, OK 73134.
A Visitation will be held at Hahn-Cook/Street & Draper, 6600 Broadway Extension, Oklahoma City, OK 73116, on April 9, 2026, from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm, followed by a Committal Service at Rose Hill Burial Park, 6001 Northwest Grand Blvd, Oklahoma City, OK 73118, on April 9, 2026, at 2:00 pm.
