Samuel John Johnson

May 20, 1908 - July 12, 2006

Samuel John Johnson, died Wednesday (July 12, 2006) at the Senior Care Center in Denton, Texas at the age of 98.

He was born May 20, 1908, on a farm west of Norcatur, Kan., the son of the late Robert and Susanna Armina (Nash) Johnson. He grew up in Norcatur where he graduated from high school in 1925.

He began working in the oil fields at Elgin, Kan., and also at a grainery.

On June 3, 1926, he married Velda Maxine Rucker at Sedan, Kan. He began working for Civil Service as a rural mail carrier and they moved to Danbury in 1940.

On Jan. 27, 1944, he entered the U.S. Navy, serving in World War II. Following his honorable discharge from the Navy on Feb. 2, 1946, he returned to Danbury to resume his Postal Service in the community. His mail route expanded to a daily travel of 175 miles and on his 58th birthday each of his 148 patrons left a gift for him in their mailboxes.

From 1963 to 1972, he and Velda resided at the Herrmann Funeral Chapel in Danbury.

He was a member of the Danbury American Legion and the Rural Letter Carriers Association.

Following his retirement in Jan. 1971, he served as Red Willow County Veterans service officer in McCook and they traveled between Nebraska and Texas moving on to McAllen, Texas in 1976. They also maintained a residence on Lake McConaughy at Ogallala.

They traveled to Denton, where they met and became good friends with Paul and?Norma Watts at the Pham South Retirement Center.

He married Norma Watts on Dec. 30, 1987, in Denton following the death of Norma's husband Paul. They resided there until his death on July 12, 2006.

Sam was preceded in death by his wife, Velda on June 24, 1986; two sons, John Francis Johnson in 1976 and Lyn Rucker Johnson on July 26, 2003; two brothers, Andrew Johnson, and Bobby Johnson; two sisters, Grace Hughes and Amelia Bechtold.

He is survived by his daughter-in-law, Lois Johnson of Sargent; his wife, Norma Johnson of Denton, Texas; four step-daughters, Linda Hook of Denton, Texas, Jennifer LeFleure of Lake Dallas, Texas, Maureen Bollinger of Eaton, Ohio and Karol Hudak of Florida; eight grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; 14 step-grandchildren and many friends.

Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, with military honors at Fort McPherson National Cemetery at Maxwell.

Herrmann Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.