Paul Willard Johnson, 85, of 219 Second St., Elkins, died at 2:40 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 14, 2002, at his residence. He had been in declining health for the past year and critical for the past week. His death was attributed to cancer.
He was born June 18, 1916, at Thomas, a son of the late Peter Alexander Johnson and Susie Katherine Dumire Johnson. On Aug. 5, 1950, at Oakland, Md., he married the former Ruby L. Taylor, who survives.
He is also survived by one daughter, Paula S. Fuhrman and husband, Thomas L. Fuhrman, of Elkins; one brother, James F. Johnson and wife, Beulah Johnson, Mainesville, Ohio; one sister-in-law, Ruhama Taylor, Ocala, Fla.; two grandchildren, T. Brandon Fuhrman and Carrie M. Fuhrman Barger and husband, Deven E. Barger, all of Morgantown; and several neices and nephews.
He was also preceded in death by two sisters, Pauline E. Bartasevich, his twin, and Edith Johnson.
Mr. Johnson was a graduate of Thomas High School with the class of 1935, and was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving during World War II in the 69th Signal Corps. He also served with Gen. George Patton in the Armored Division and participated in the Invasion of Normandy.
He was a manager of the A&P Co. and then owned and managed the Main Street Food Market at Thomas until his retirement in 1982. He was a member of the Thomas American Legion, where he had served as post commander for two terms, and H.W. Daniels Post No. 29 American Legion and the Tygarts Valley Post No. 3647 Veterans of Foreign Wars.
He was a member of the Elkins-randolph County Senior Center, where he had also served as a volunteer, and was a member of the Thomas Volunteer Fire Department for many years. He was a Democratic Committeeman in Tucker County for many years and was a Methodist by faith.
Funeral Arrangements: Friends will be received today at the Lohr-barb-vance Funeral Home from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Final rites will be conducted Sunday at 2 p.m. at the funeral home chapel. Evangelist Gary L. Kendall will officiate and interment will follow at the American Legion’s Little Arlington Cemetery at Cravensdale, where the H.W. Daniels Post No. 29 American Legion will present the American Flag. The family suggests that expressions of sympathy be in the form of contributions to the Elkins-randolph County Senior Center, Fifth Street and Railroad Ave., Elkins, W.Va. 26241, or to Hospice Care Corporation, 629 North Ave., Elkins, W.Va. 26241.
