Richard L. Johnson

Wichita - Johnson, Richard L

88, passed away Thursday, March 14th, 2024. He was born October 3rd, 1935 to William Johnson and Viola (Beane) Johnson in Russell, Kansas.

Richard was known as Dick, as many people would still refer to him. He grew up during the depression, and often talked about the hard times, as everyone did. He worked as a teenager at the Wichita Eagle Beacon, being a gold caddie, and other odd jobs as he helped care for his mother and siblings. His father passed when he was 17. He attended and graduated from North High school, and became a talented avid golfer. He was proud of this and won many awards. He was still golfing at the age of 65. He married Joyce Driskell while working in a furniture store delivering furniture, as he worked with Joyce’s father Bill Driskell. Together they had 3 children, Kathy, in 1956, Richard (Keith) 1959, and Kelly, 1963. He enjoyed fishing, golfing, playing cards and bowling. While his children were growing up, he attended South Riverside Baptist Church. He was a Weebelo leader which is an organization for boys much like Boy Scouts. He was a father in the era where all the neighbors knew and looked out for each other. This was during the times when children really did play outside until the streetlights came on, and parents would yell out the front door to come in. Fond memories that come to mind included kids and adults packing into the back of his pickup and riding to Sandy Beach to swim. Dick enjoyed cards, especially pinnacle. When Joyce's parents came to town from Missouri, they enjoyed playing cards into the night with Dick and Joyce, and sometimes into the next day as the men still had to go to work. He took us many times to the farm to see Joyce’s parents in Houstonia, Missouri, and spent most Christmases with them. He loved to bowl, and for many years bowled at Seneca Bowl on Friday nights with Shirley and Bob Keck, and other friends Marge and Red. To provide for his family, he worked as a furniture salesman, first at Sears, then Hickerson furniture. In 1981 He and Joyce divorced, and later he married Dorothy Lancaster. He continued to work in furniture sales and retired at age 55, traveling the US with a fifth wheel and a bus trip across America. He lived in Texas during the winter and moved back to Wichita in the warmer months. Dorthy and Richard enjoyed square dancing, golfing, and traveling. He gardened and sometimes went to the center to play cards with just the men. Richard was a frugal man, living simply after buying several rental properties, and continued to travel with Dorothy. He enjoyed building bird houses and gardening and making his yard full of flowers. After Dorothy passed in 2017, he moved back to Fern street and lived there until his death. He insisted on driving, because he craved his independence. He knew all his neighbors, became very close to his nephew Mark and his family. He would visit all afternoon with men at McDonalds, drinking coffee and swapping stories (some most likely stretching the truth.) He never knew a stranger, and he began going to senior dances where he met Delores Downs. He was very close to her and she was considered a dear friend and dance partner. His life was full, as long as he had company and he was visiting. He enjoyed watching sports until his vision failed him. He believed in God and kept his same values that he learned growing up. Everyone knew where he stood, and he was loved by many. He almost always had a dog, and Tracker is waiting for the day they cross the rainbow bridge together.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William Johnson and Viola (Beane) Johnson; first wife, Joyce Johnson; second wife, Dorothy Johnson; siblings, Phillip, Wayne, Stanley

Richard is survived by his son, Keith Johnson (Sharon) of Phoenix, AZ; daughters, Kathy Johnson of Rosehill, KS, Kelly Johnson of Wichita, KS; grandchildren, Jillian, Olivia, Driskell, Bayley, Caney; great-grandchildren, Driskell Jr, Nathair, Atlas; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews , and special friend Delores Downs.

Visitation: Wednesday, March 20th, 2024, from 9:00 am to 11:00 am and Funeral Service: 11:00 am, Wednesday, March 20th, 2024 both at Culbertson-Smith Mortuary 115 South Seneca Wichita, Kansas 67213. Interment to follow at Greenwood Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Kansas Humane Society