Roger Eugene Johnson

Roger Eugene Johnson, 83, of Bartlesville, was in Bartlesville Friday when he joined his Savior Jesus Christ and the heavenly choir. Roger was born the son of Raymond Dewey and Frances Emma (Danielson) Johnson on January 16, 1940, in Burlington, Iowa. He was raised in Burlington and from a young age had a passion for aviation and detective comics. He played football at BHS, and joined the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program and the Civil Air Patrol in high school, where he first took flight to the great blue skies. He then earned his associate’s degree before enlisting in the U.S. Air Force. Roger wanted badly to be a pilot, but in the early 1960s, perfect vision was required, and his eyesight was not quite up to par. Instead, he served at Loring Air Force Base in Caribou, Maine for four years and this is where he learned mechanical engineering and repair, and became a stickler for orderly work spaces. Once honorably discharged, Roger returned home to Burlington and was employed with Union Supply as a purchasing agent. Mutual friends Cheryl and Dale Vickstrom introduced him to Anita Jean Davidson and a relationship quickly formed. They were united in marriage on April 16, 1972. Soon they were blessed with the birth of two children, Andrea and Aaron. Roger went on to work at Trane in purchasing, then Fruehauf in material control for several years before they relocated to Canon City, CO. He loved the scenic beauty of Colorado and hiking with his family in Salida and at Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. After Andrea graduated from college, they moved to Kansas where Roger became a much loved store manager for Duckwall/Alco. They moved to Bartlesville in 1997 where he worked at The Quarters, then was able to pursue his interest in security, or “being a cop” as he put it, for Oklahoma Wesleyan University and ConocoPhillips, positions he loved and enjoyed. Roger loved the Lord and along with Anita, was active in the ministries of the Nazarene church, including as Sunday School Superintendent and teacher, Caravans teacher, Childrens’ Church leader, Vacation Bible School (VBS), and singing in the earthly choir. When the kids were young, he would load the family up for road trips and hikes, sometimes just to be out and about, and other times to amusement parks or festivals. Roger never forgot his first love and he clocked countless hours on his computer pursuing his love for flying. He found a flight simulator and he would oftentimes mention to the kids, “Well, you know, today I flew my Leer Jet to” these various international airports. When not virtually flying all over the world, Roger enjoyed his favorite TV shows like Live PD and On Patrol: Live. Most of all, he loved his beautiful wife of 50 years, his precious children, and his family. He will be dearly missed. Roger is survived by his wife Anita, children Andrea Johnson and her partner Christine Ahn, and son Aaron Johnson. He is preceded in death by his parents. Services will be held on Tuesday, at 10 a.m. at the First Church of the Nazarene. Services are under the direction of Carter Davis and the Davis Family Funeral Home & Crematory – Walker Brown Chapel. Online condolences and remembrances may be shared at www.DavisFamilyFuneralHome.com.

Roger Eugene Johnson

January 16, 1940 - March 17, 2023