Richard F. Johnson, Sr.

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Richard F. Johnson, Sr., 93, of New Holland, formerly of Kennett Square, passed away on Friday, March 18, 2011 at the Coatesville VA Medical Center Hospice Unit. He was the husband of the late Sara Pyle Johnson who died in 2005. They shared 60 years of marriage together. Born in Lower Oxford, he was the son of the late A. Kelso and Ella Farra Johnson. Richard was a 1935 graduate of the Oxford High School. In 1942 he enlisted in the US Army Air Corp and went on to serve as a B-17 pilot with the 8th Air Force. His airplane was shot down over Europe on July 29, 1943 and Mr. Johnson was subsequently captured and remained a POW until he was liberated in April of 1945. 


After the war, he was employed, for over 40 years as a banker retiring from the South East National Bank in Avondale. He also retired from the Air Force Reserves as a Captain.

 

Richard served on the Unionville School Board and with West Marlborough Twp. as Supervisor. He was a member of the Aero Club of Chester County, the Flying Farmers, the Rotary, CBMC and the Willowdale Chapel, where he had served as a Deacon and Elder.

 

He is survived by three sons; Richard F. Johnson, Jr. and wife Cindy of Trinidad, CA, Ronald B. Johnson and companion Aleta Foulds of Coatesville and Mark L. Johnson and wife Sharon of West Grove, one grandson Steven J. Johnson and two sisters; Marian Roark of Oxford and Grace Wolf of Powell, Wyoming. He was preceded in death by five sisters and one brother.

 

Funeral services will be held on Friday, March 25, 2011 at 11:00 am from the Wilde Funeral Home, 434 Main St. Parkesburg, PA followed by interment at the Union Hill Cemetery in Kennett Square. Family and friends are also invited to attend the viewing on Thursday evening at the funeral home from 6:00 to 8:00 pm and also Friday morning from 10:00 am to the time of the service. Memorial donations may be made in his memory to the Alzheimers Assoc., 399 Market St. Suite 102, Philadelphia, PA 19106.

 

 

Online condolences can be posted at www.wildefuneralhome.com