Joseph Henry Johnson, Jr.

Born in Wallace, N.C. on February 18, 1933, Joe was eight years old when he moved with his parents to Wilmington, N.C. He was a pillar of his community, always steadfast in his dedication to the values of hard work and service, and his life was made full by the love of the family that he helped to build and loved to lead.

Joe is preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Henry Johnson Sr. and Elizabeth Woodcock Johnson, and his sister Sally Croom. He is also preceded by his beloved wife Ann Williams Johnson, to whom he was married for sixty-three years.

Joe is survived by his three children: Joseph H. Johnson III and his wife Karen, Elizabeth A. Lennon and her husband John, and Mark W. Johnson and his wife Traci; seven grandchildren: Kevin Johnson, Brian Johnson, Lindsay Neal, Preston Lennon, Avery Lennon, Whitley Lennon, and Connor Johnson; four great-grandchildren: Joseph Johnson, Michael Johnson, Miles Johnson, and Harper Neal; and by his niece Sandra Croom.

Starting from a young age, and for his entire life onward, Joe knew how to roll up his sleeves and finish a job. Industrious and resolute, he held himself to a high standard and expected the same from everyone under his wing. As a child during World War II, he worked as a safety captain in his neighborhood, where he would roam the streets at night and ensure all his neighbors properly applied blackout curtains to their windows. At the age of only thirteen, Joe was placed in charge of shuttling German prisoners of war between Spofford Mills and the Leeuwenburg Dairy Farm. Even still, Joe’s personality always beamed with charisma, joviality and a good sense of humor. He fondly recalled taking his father’s car on joy rides around Cape Fear Country Club, and riding his mule “Maude” to Forest Hills School on his final day of 8th grade.

Joe graduated in 1951 from New Hanover High School, where he met the love of his life and future wife Ann. Their marriage on February 21, 1953 was postponed until just after Joe’s twentieth birthday, because Ann “didn’t want to marry a teenager.” Together they built an expansive life and a loving family. As a remarkably loyal father, provider, and inspirational mentor for his children, Joe steadfastly encouraged determination, resiliency, dedication and a strong work ethic. One of Joe and Ann’s greatest pleasures was to preside over family gatherings and holidays that included their three succeeding generations. Many a Christmas Eve, Fourth of July, and Easter Sunday were hosted by Joe at his beloved “sound house,” his homestead in Middle Sound on the banks of the Intracoastal Waterway that he delighted in augmenting, improving, and up-keeping. A man of projects, Joe took great joy supervising work done on his property. Even well into his nineties, Joe loved to spend his days outside under the oak trees: making plans, giving orders, and directing work.

While still in high school, Joe enlisted in the Army National Guard, Headquarters Battery, 150th Battalion Company, 252nd AAA Group (artillery). Because his parents would not approve his enlistment at such a young age, Joe “amended” his birthdate and told recruiters he was eighteen in order to serve. As an enlisted soldier in the Army National Guard, Joe’s military service began with a two year mobilization for the Korean Conflict. He rocketed to the rank of Sergeant First Class (E-7) by the age of twenty. He then earned his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant, became a communications officer, rose to the rank of Captain, and by 1968 he was Company Commander of 252nd AAA Group. After an impressive tenure in command, Joe transferred to the Army Reserve in 1968 where he served in multiple leadership and advisory capacities in both North Carolina and South Carolina, rising to the rank of Colonel. He retired in 1993 after an astonishing forty-three year military career. Throughout his entire life, Joe was a steadfast and true patriot who often professed his devotion and passion for the military and his country.

At the age of nineteen, in 1952, Joe got a job “pushing a broom” at Riegel Paper Corporation in Riegelwood, N.C. He would retire, forty-five years later, as Production Manager - the second in charge of the paper mill. Before this, he served many years as Pulp Mill Superintendent and his company records for pulp production have yet to be eclipsed. Joe’s successes at the paper mill were widely known across the industry; his ideas and systems were disseminated throughout the United States and Europe to help other mills rise to the standards he devised and set. Known as a tireless, strong, and demanding manager who expected your best work, Joe always remained fiercely loyal to his employees. It was widely reported by his peers that Joe never once called in sick during his forty-five year career.

Joe began to host a small party to celebrate his shift leaders at the paper mill, and the gathering eventually evolved into his legendary “Cook Out,” held annually at the sound house every February for sixty years. Joe and his closest confidantes would spend the night before the party preparing food and telling stories by the fire. It was not unheard of for Wilmington’s Congressmen to make an appearance, shake Joe’s hand, and thank him for delivering record-breaking vote totals as the Ogden area precinct chair.

In retirement, Joe stayed busy making real estate investments in Myrtle Beach and Wilmington, and took his love for “making deals” to the next level by growing his car business of Ace Sales on Market Street. One could always count on a Mercedes Benz or two to be parked in the sound house driveway. In his rare idle time, Joe loved to watch the Tarheels, Atlanta Braves and Carolina Panthers. He procured season tickets for the Panthers during their inaugural season in 1996, and made his last trip to see the team in 2022. An avid outdoorsman, he loved golf, hunting and fishing. For over forty years he traveled to Arkansas with longtime friends John Cowand and Dale Drake for epic duck hunts. Later in life it was fishing with Morris Thompson, solving the world’s problems with Donald Loftin and still tinkering on cars with Mike Mathis. From the age of ten, Joe was a lifelong member of the Trinity United Methodist Church; he served in various leadership roles at the church, and was trustee chair at the age of ninety.

Later in life, Joe was blessed to meet Ramona Warren, with whom he spent many sunny days perched on his “Pride and Joy” houseboat. The two of them embarked on many travels and adventures, and loved to spend Thursday nights surrounded by friends at Olympia Restaurant (the “O Club,” as he named it).

Joe’s family, friends, former employees, and fellow servicemembers all remember him as a natural leader, in the truest sense of the phrase. His confidence and charisma drew many people into his circle, and his presence will be remembered and cherished by all who knew him.

The family would like to offer special thanks to Rose Baldwin for the loving and special full-time care she provided in Joe’s final months; to Deb Broom and Erox Missingno for their invaluable work as dedicated caregivers; and to Home Instead for helping to make staying at home possible, with special thanks to Shirley and Chance.

Family and friends are receiving visitors Sunday, November 15 at a drop in from 1:00pm-4:00pm at his home at 2028 Deep Creek Run.

A graveside service will be held at Oleander Memorial Gardens Friday, November 27th at 1:00pm. All are welcome.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.coblegreenlawn.com