Edwin Johnson

Edwin Laurence Johnson passed away on February 16, 2018.  Edwin was born on May 27, 1927 in Barranca Bermeja, Colombia to parents Florence (Cleary) and Edwin Morton Johnson.   A veteran of WW II, Edwin volunteered for service with the United States Navy at the age of seventeen.  He was a member of the commissioning crew aboard the Destroyer Tender Frontier (AD-25) with the rank of Fireman First Class (1944-46). In 1948, Edwin graduated with an Associate Degree from Union Junior College, Cranford N.J. and in 1950 he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from Wilkes College.   In 1952, he married Lee Ann Jakes and the couple had two children.  He joined the faculty at Lehman-Jackson School District in 1952 as a teacher, guidance counselor, and coach (baseball and women’s basketball) until 1966.  In 1958, Edwin earned a Master’s Degree from Bucknell University in education and in 1966 he returned to Wilkes College as a faculty member in the Education Department. Edwin remained at Wilkes College as the director of student teaching until his retirement in 1996 upon which time he was named Associate Professor Emeritus of Education. From 1961 until 1974, Edwin served in the Coast Guard Reserves reaching the rank of Lieutenant Commander in 1969. He relished his time in the Coast Guard and his times at sea.  Edwin was an avid birder and launched the Dallas area Audubon Annual Christmas bird count as well as participating in additional bird counts and nesting censuses throughout the region each year.  Edwin was an active member in the local chapter of the Audubon Society, the Torch Club (Wilkes Barre), the U.S Coast Guard Veterans Association, the Northeast Pennsylvania Stamp Club, and the Pennsylvania Intermountain Pipe Enclave.  For years after his retirement, Edwin volunteered at the Dallas Municipal Library Book store.  A life-long learner and voracious reader, Edwin always had recommendations for books and shared many a cartoon from the New Yorker with family and friends.  Edwin is pre-deceased by his wife Lee Ann Johnson and his sister Virginia Dougherty (Indiana, Pa.). He is survived by his two sons, Dr. E. Mark Johnson (Ann) of Greenwood, Delaware and Dr. Eric L Johnson (Maria) of Oneonta, NY along with two grandchildren Kaitlin Ann and Joshua Johnson, and many nieces and nephews. A celebration of Edwin’s life will be held at Richard H. Disque Funeral Home, 2940 Memorial Highway, Dallas on May 12 from 1-4 pm.  In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Back Mountain Memorial Library c/o 96 Huntsville Road, Dallas, Pa. 18612. Interment will be in Fern Knoll Burial Park, Dallas.