Johnson, Jack
Birth: Wednesday, March 05, 1924 in Columbus, Ohio
Residence: Solomons, Maryland
Death: Thursday, May 17, 2018 at the age of 94
Laid to Rest: Friday, May 25, 2018 in the Solomons United Methodist Church Cemetery, Solomons, Maryland
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Jack Johnson, 94 of Solomons, MD passed away peacefully at home on May 17th 2018. Born on March 5th 1924 in Columbus, Ohio to Giles V. and Nellie (Bowman) Johnson. After graduating from Matewan High School in West Virginia, he moved to Bridgeport, Connecticut to begin working for the U.S. Aluminum Co.

He registered for the young mens draft in 1942 and joined the Navy where he was trained as a fighter jet copilot and ranked as an Aviation Radioman Second Class SV-6, he still remembered the Morris Code. After his service in the Navy he used the GI Bill to learn electricity, refrigeration and air-conditioning, and went on to earn a Bachelor's Degree at Salisbury State Teachers College. Jack began his teaching career in Montgomery County, MD.

Jack married Doris Woodburn Johnson on August 26th 1950 and in 1960 they moved to Solomons where he taught 6th grade at Calvert Middle School, and they became owner operator of H. M. Woodburn & Co. Jack continued his own education earning a Master's degree in Education. In addition to teaching he was a Calvert Middle School Administrator.

At the age of thirty-five Jack and Doris became owners and operators of H.M. Woodburn & Co in Solomons, MD. While raising their two daughters, they spent thirty years managing their bait and tackle shop and Charter Boat Marina. Jack was a Charter Boat Captain, leading fishing expeditions and as a hobby enjoyed making many of his own fishing lures. In addition to teaching and the Charter Fishing Marina, he managed his commercial air conditioning and refrigeration business.

After retirement Jack served on the Board of Directors for the Calvert Memorial Hospital, volunteered for fifteen years delivering Meals on Wheels, and was a lifelong member of the American Legion. Jack and Doris spent much of their time traveling throughout the United States and the world, places including Hawaii, Arizona, Alaska, Canada and the Caribbean.

They enjoyed cruises in Alaska, on the Amazon River in South America and the Yangtze River in China. After years of travel, you'd often find them at home, Doris cooking and baking in her kitchen and Jack in his TV room relaxing, watching a game or one of his favorite Westerns like Gunsmoke. Jack and Doris had a large vegetable garden and a yard full of beautiful flowering plants, shrubs and fruit trees including the neighborhood's beloved cherry trees.

In his youth Jack played basketball and football at Matewan High School. Jack enjoyed farming; during the summers he helped on his Aunt and Uncle's farm in West Virginia. He had a love for all sports especially baseball, basketball and football. He played on a baseball league in Solomons, and was an avid fan of University of Maryland sports, Nationals baseball and Redskins football. He even played on a pool league in Solomons for many years, he was a highly skilled player!

Jack really was a "Jack of all trades", and could master anything that he put his mind to: all types of fishing, designing and creating beautiful Tiffany style stained glass lamps and window art, wood carving, photography, painting, gardening, planting fruit trees, making wine and Damson plum jam, playing cards and of course teaching.

Jack was preceded in death by Doris, his beloved wife of sixty-five years. He is survived by their two daughters, Diane and husband Jim Rashid of Bowie, MD, and Tracey and husband Dallas Cook of St. Leonard, MD and his two grandsons and a great-granddaughter. He was preceded in death by his two sisters Mildred Mineau of Rancho Cordova, CA, and Ruth Bruce of Sacramento, CA, plus many caring nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral Service will be provided by Rausch Funeral Home located at 20 American Lane, Lusby, MD 20657. Visitation will be held at Rausch Funeral Home on Thursday May 24th, 2018 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 Noon, followed by the service. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Solomons Volunteer Rescue Squad and Fire Department, in Memory of Jack Johnson PO Box 189, Solomons, MD 20688 .

From a mountain coal mining town in Matewan, West Virginia to a fishing village in Solomons Island, Maryland, he had a life well lived.
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