Bobby Wayne Johnson of Woodlawn, Texas (aged 73) left this world on September 1st, 2018.
While on this earth, he lived and loved fully—and will be missed by many.

Born in Carthage, Texas on June 12th, 1945, and raised in Jefferson, Johnson was an avid high school athlete. He graduated Jefferson High School in 1963. After briefly attending Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches—and going to California with a friend and his guitar to cut a record—he decided to enlist in the United States Army. He was selected by the Special Forces as a Green Beret.

While in medical training in San Antonio, he met his wife, and they married two weeks later. He served his country in the Viet Nam conflict for two year-long tours, and was a purple heart recipient.

Upon discharge, Johnson and his wife lived in Norwood, Massachusetts for six years where they had a daughter. He studied and received his ACLU license and became a top-selling salesman for Metropolitan Life Insurance.

Feeling the pull to be closer to his parents Carl and Bethel Johnson, he returned to Woodlawn in 1973. He and his wife opened up an auto collision business—B & J Collision, which has been operating for more than 40 years. In 1977, the family was blessed with a second daughter.

A gifted speaker and writer, Johnson combined his insurance and auto body business expertise and began writing regular articles for Hammer & Dolly, Motor Magazine, and other industry magazines. He was invited to speak at conferences across the U.S. and authored a book about those experiences; Taking Care of Business. He also won numerous industry awards.

Later in life, Johnson began a part-time career as a police officer/investigator for the Marion County District Attorney's Office, where he worked proudly for nearly a decade.

Gregarious, and generous, he was kind, sentimental and loved to laugh. And anyone that knew him knew he loved his animals. He reveled in being the man who bought everyone lunch, and he mentored and helped many young employees, and supported numerous groups and events in the Jefferson and Marshall area. A proud patriot, he supported and was active and in many veterans organizations.

Ever the athlete, Johnson also received his black belt in Tae Kwon Do and proceeded to win in various senior level divisions. His happiest times were with family and friends at the beach in Galveston Island, or working out at the gym or in his yard at home. He was a member of the congregation of Immanuel Baptist Church.

He is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Judith Ann Johnson of Woodlawn, his daughter Shannon, and son-in-law Jeffrey Hiltner of Vermont. His beloved daughter Amanda Johnson Thompson, his grandson Alexander Hiltner, and his parents predeceased him.

The family would like to honor several individuals whom Johnson loved equally as family: Harry and Minda Thornton, Nancy Ponder, Rodney King, David Nelson and Ronnie Stanfield.