Charles Edward Johnson, 94 of Turlock, passed away peacefully on February 9, 2024 at Alexander Cohen Hospice House in Hughson.
On September 1, 1929, Charles was born to parents, Albert and Offie (Goff) Johnson of Quitman, Arkansas. Life in Arkansas was not easy during the “Dust Bowl” especially for a family working as farm laborers. When Charles was 9 years old, the family paid for passage to California on the back of a work truck.
Young Charles was much better suited to California life. Farm labor was not what he intended to do. After finishing the eighth grade, Charles started taking odd jobs around Merced where the family had settled. Charles seemed especially comfortable working at a local service gas station, which would play an important role in his later life. At the age of 26, he married his first wife, Sheila Van Hook and enlisted in the US Army. While serving in the Army, Charles was deployed and fought in Korea. After returning home safely, Charles started his family, consisting of his three sons, Robert, David, Stephen, and his daughter Katherine. Charles also started running his own service stations. His people skills and mechanical knowledge made him successful in his career. Charles and Sheila divorced but Charles remained in the bay area and continued to own and operate service stations. After meeting Sylvia, the two were married and lived in the bay area until Charles retired, and they moved to Turlock to be closer to family. They spent the next twenty years here watching the family grow and enjoying their time with friends.
Charles is united in death with his son Stephen and daughter Katherine. Left behind are his wife Sylvia, son David and daughter-in-law Tina, and son Robert. His grandchildren Elizabeth Johnson, Stephen Manchester, Brandon Johnson, and Lauren Giesbrecht, and great-grandchildren Blake and Sadie Johnson and Jaxon and Levi Giesbrecht.
The family has requested in lieu of flowers, monetary donations be made to the Alexander Cohen Hospice House at 2201 Euclid Ave. Hughson, CA 95326 where Charles spent his last days surrounded by his family until his passing on February 9, 2024.
Visitation will be held from 4pm to 7pm on Monday, February 26 at Allen Mortuary. A funeral service will be held at 10am on February 27 also at Allen Mortuary. Burial will follow at San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery, Santa Nella.
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