Robert Gary Johnson

From the streets of South Alabama to climbing Machu Picchu, navigating inside the Pyramids of Egypt, strolling the streets of Ephesus, munching goodies at Christmas Markets all over Europe, Gary was at home when traveling the world with the love of his life, Pat.

Gary was born on October 24, 1947, at the Turberville Memorial Hospital in Century, Florida, the third son of Ernest Hiram Johnson and Lola Mae Simmons Johnson. He is survived by his wife, Patricia (Pat) Staton Johnson, his two brothers, Hiram Johnson and Chester Johnson, and a host of nieces, great nieces, nephews, and great nephews. He was extremely proud of his South Alabama-Northwest Florida upbringing and his Century High School “Blackcats.”

Gary spent his early years working and playing on the farm with his maternal grandparents and uncles, who served as stand-in fathers after the death of his father. These years established his unusually good work ethic, curiosity about the how to and why of anything, and his logical way of looking at life.

He had a keen interest in engineering and attended the University of Alabama, earning a degree in Mechanical engineering. He was employed by Gulf Power for a short time, until his desire to serve his country and led to his enlistment in the U.S. Army, and served in Vietnam.

He returned to the University of Alabama to earn an MS in Mechanical Engineering. He was hired and worked for Brown Engineering, USBI, in Huntsville and Cape Canaveral. It was necessary in God’s design for him to move to Florida because that is where he met and married his wife, Pat.

Gary cherished his relationships with family and friends from all walks of life. He spent much of life making and cultivating these friendships. He met, believed, and accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord. His relationship with Christ created the direction and actions for the rest of his life. Ministry in missions brought God’s spiritual gift of ‘Joy’ in Gary’s life. This” joy” was encouraged and cultivated by Indian Springs Holiness Camp Meeting, Church of the Highlands, Kairos Prison Ministry, and kingdom workers around the world.

For the better part of his adult life, he and Pat worked in and supported ministries across the globe. His impact was seen in establishing an eye glass ministry in Honduras, water filtration devices in Honduras and Kenya, providing and installing radios for the Quechua in Bolivia, providing shoes through Operation Beautiful Feet in several countries, and serving in the Kairos Prison Ministry.

He avoided recognition as much as possible, but one document he treasured was a Certificate of Appreciation from NASA for investigating the Space Shuttle Challenger accident and identifying actions to return to flight. In this, it meant retrieving parts of the spacecraft from the ocean floor.

A Life Well Traveled, A Life Well Lived because of Jesus Christ

The family requests in lieu of flowers, please donate to:

Operation Beautiful Feet, P.O. Box 736, Carrollton, Georgia 30112, or Hands of Christ (Honduran Hospital), P.O. Box 680865, Franklin, Tennessee 37068.