Robert William Johnson

Bobby passed away on Saturday, September 15, 2018, 7:39 am while in the care of University of Texas (UT) - Medical Center. The sixth child and fifth son of Thomas E. Johnson II, and Young Sook Johnson (maiden name: Lee) . Bobby was kindhearted and lived according to what he believed was right, but like the rest of us, he made mistakes. He accepted Christ when he was six or seven years old and was baptized at the Charleston Heights Baptist Church. Bobby was known as "Smiley" by all of his high school friends because of his general disposition. He had many loyal friends. There probably was no one who didn’t like him. He had a kind heart and a happy go lucky way about him. Some would say Bobby was a genius. He never attended college but he could repair crypto communications units, satellite communications devices, and even program integrated circuits. He taught himself how to write software because he wanted to replace some of the electronic components on his home alarm system that he had designed with their software equivalents. When asked by an executive of Eastman Kodak to fly to his office to demonstrate his alarm system, he responded with, “If you want to meet with me, you’ll need to fly to Dallas”. Confidence accompanies genius. He once owned a Nissan Maxima that needed a new on-board computer, instead of buying a new unit; he repaired it, reprogramming an integrated circuit. Bobby spent a short time serving in the Air Force as a communications technician for the U.S. Air Force in Honduras, in the war that wasn't a war, and later served in the Air Force Reserve. During his post-military career he work several jobs as a technician, computer engineer, and manager for several companies. During a portion of his life, Bobby crusaded to help the needy everywhere he found them. He had read the Bible several times and carefully studied every verse and phrase. He definitely knew it better than most. Bobby would handout Christian pamphlets to anyone who would accept them. He gave money to anyone who needed it. He once used his home to accumulate items to give to the poor. When he saw an old microwave that someone discarded, he would repair the unit and give it to a needy person. From time to time, he would host homeless people in his home until they could find a job or a more permanent place to live. All of this is amazing given that Bobby was a victim of schizophrenia. We began to notice a significant change in him when he was around 13 or 14. Bobby spent the end of his life in hospitals. At some point in time, Bobby began to doubt God. I can only hope he recovered his faith before the end of his life. He believed strongly in treating others the way he wanted to be treated, and that working hard was way to get ahead in life. He lived according to what he felt was necessary, even if some thought his ways were flawed. But he had determination. He showed what he thought love was. From his daughter Sarah: "Living with him has made me who I am, a determined, strong individual. He showed me how living with old-fashioned ideals are not always right. His uncertainty about God made me want to know more about the Lord. All I guess I can say is he lived by what he thought was right." He is survived by Jururat Jear Johnson (Joy, ex-wife, 54), Rachel Alethea Johnson (32), Sara Athena Johnson (29), Teresa Christina Johnson (27), and Timothy Arthur Johnson (20).

Robert William Johnson

December 30, 1964 - September 15, 2018