Kermit B. Johnson
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Kermit B. Johnson, 87, of 21 Lake St. died at 4:50 p.m. Tuesday (January 6, 2009) in the Lutheran Home and Rehabilitation Center.
An area resident for most of his life he was born March 19, 1921, in Kane, Pa., a son of the late Adolph and Bertha Johnson Johnson.
Kermit was a 1939 graduate of Jamestown High School and attended Grove City College, Grove City, Pa.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, serving from February 9, 1942, to September 24, 1945, during World War II aboard the USS Yorktown, where he was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation Award for Heroism. He also assisted in setting up Navy radar training schools in Jacksonville, Fla., and Norman, Okla.
He had a keen interest and was extremely knowledgeable in radio and electronics and in early years owned and operated Kerm Johnson T.V. Repair and had also worked for Cline's T.V. Service for 15 years. In later years, he worked for Chautauqua County ,where he installed and maintained radio equipment for fire services and the Sheriff's Department throughout the county. He had also worked part-time for Aarque Management Company.
He was a longtime active member of the First Lutheran Church, where he served as an usher and lector. He was also an active member of the Mt. Moriah Lodge 145 Free and Accepted Masons, the Ingjald Lodge 65 Independent Order of the Vikings, the Thule Lodge 127 Vasa Order of America, the Military Affiliated Radio Service and the American Radio Relay League. He was a long-time ham radio operator for over 70 years with call sign of W2SBK.
He began his service with Mt. Moriah Lodge 145 in 1958, was appointed to the official line in 1960 and served as master in 1967. He also served as chaplain of the lodge in 1972. Kerm was well known as one of the most proficient ritualists in the Chautauqua County District. He served as Monarch of Kharram Grotto in 1967, Thrice Illustrious Master of Royal and Select Masters in 1966 and 1967, High Priest of the Royal Arch Masons in 1967, Commander of the Commandrey of Knights Templar in 1968, District Deputy Grand Master of Royal and Select Masons in 1970 and 1971, Chairman of Chautauqua District Masonic Council in 1972, Royal Patron of the Order of the Amaranth in 1960, 1962, and 1969, and Deputy Grand Royal Patron of the Order of the Amaranth. In 1969, he received one of the highest awards in all masonry when knighted a Knight of the York Cross of Honor.
Surviving are two sons: Dennis W. (Linda) Johnson of Jamestown, Craig D. Johnson (Harvey Westcott) of Binghamton, N.Y., and a grandson, Steven D. Johnson of Jamestown. He is also survived by his friend and companion of several years Shirley Slagle of Jamestown.
He was preceded in death by his wife, the former Mildred Hedstrom Johnson, whom he married February 21, 1948, and who died September 12, 1990, four sisters: Eleanor Haecker, Bernice Carlson, Cecelia Avey, Lucinda Johnson and a brother Floyd Johnson.
The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday in Memorial Chapel of First Lutheran Church. The Rev. Billy J. Banks, pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in the Sunset Hill Cemetery.
Friends will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday in the Lind Funeral Home, where a Masonic Lodge Funeral Service will be conducted at 7 p.m. Friday.
Memorials may be made to the First Lutheran Church, 120 Chandler St., Jamestown, NY 14701, the Mt. Moriah Lodge, Baker St. Ext. Jamestown, NY 14701 or to the American Radio Relay League, 225 Main St., Newington, CT 06111-1494.
