Douglas Richard Johnson
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Douglas Richard Johnson, 91, passed away peacefully on January 31, 2022, in hospice at Waltonwood Lake Boone retirement community, Raleigh, NC. Doug was surrounded by the deep love and comfort of his wife Marcia and his children.
Doug was born in Wisconsin Rapids, WI, on November 10, 1930, to Nels and Nellie Johnson. His family moved to Troutdale, Oregon, during the early years of World War II. Doug graduated from Benson Polytechnic High School. Future education plans were put on hold during his four years of military service in the Air Force during the Korean War. He later enrolled in the University of Portland as a General Engineering student.
At age 75, Doug retired as Mechanical Maintenance Supervisor for Wyeth, now Pfizer pharmaceuticals. Despite being offered a promotion and a raise, he left because "working wasn't fun any more." Previous job experiences in the engineering field spanned over 25 years. With emphasis on instrumentation and plant start-ups, he directed construction projects in the United States and worldwide. His work assignments in the petroleum industry took him to Alaska, Scotland, England, Singapore, Indonesia, Brazil, and Venezuela. He coordinated the construction of the Brent C oil platform in the North Sea.
Since childhood, Doug wanted to live on a lake. So he bought a house on Buffalo Lake soon after he moved his family to North Carolina. He lived in this happy place for over 45 years looking out over the water and listening to traditional Country Western music. Doug enjoyed building things with his power tools, reading raunchy cowboy paperbacks, and laughing at the jokes in the Reader's Digest.
Doug will be sorely missed by his devoted wife of 30 years, Marcia Hill Johnson, and his seven children, Mary Foster (David), Mike (Anna), Patty, Mark (Beth), Lora, Ann Seward (David), and John.
He was held in highest affection by his stepsons Frank Constantino (Angela), Mike Constantino (Lori), Andy Constantino (Mary), and David Constantino (Shannon).
Other family members who benefited from his vast store of knowledge and life experiences are five grandchildren and eight stepgrandchildren. An expected great grandchild and three young stepgrands may someday learn of Grandpa's adventures.
Doug is also survived by his younger sister Jean Wing of Portland, OR.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Evelyn Zumwalt, and by his brother David Johnson.
Funeral services will be conducted in the chapel at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 200 Southeast Maynard Road, Cary, NC. All are welcome to attend.
The service will begin on Saturday, February 19, at 11:00 a.m., preceded by visitation at 10:00 a.m.
At a later date, the Inurnment will take place in the Memory Garden, Pine Forest Memorial Gardens, Wake Forest, NC.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given in Doug's name to Transitions LifeCare serving Raleigh, NC, or to Dementia Alliance of North Carolina.