Charles William Johnson, 78, of Wichita, KS, passed away on October 19, 2016 at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX. He was born on June 4, 1938 in Oberlin, KS to Harold Oscar Johnson and Inez Mildred Crabb Johnson.
Charles (Chuck) grew up on a farm near Kanona, KS where he attended grade school. He graduated from Decatur Community High School in Oberlin, KS in 1956. He attended Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS from 1956 to 1960, studying engineering.
He spent his entire professional career at Koch Industries, where he worked for 40 years. Prior to his retirement in 1999, he was the President of Koch Pipelines, Minnesota Pipeline Company, Chase Pipeline Company, and Vice President of Koch Refining Co. He had many roles at Koch during his career and lived in Houston, TX, Baton Rouge, LA, Medford, OK and Wichita, KS. He devoted so much of his career to developing, mentoring, and managing people that became incredibly successful in their own right at Koch. He left a legacy.
Chuck loved flying planes, racing cars, and riding motor cycles. He was a 32nd degree Mason with the Mountain Slope Lodge #186 in Oberlin, KS, a Shriner, and a member of the Methodist Church.
Chuck married Sandy Anne Cruver in 1961 in Oberlin, KS. They had a daughter, Cynthia (Cindy) Anne. They divorced in 1966. He married Barbara Louise Milner in 1973, and had two sons, Charles (Chad) Harold Johnson and Christopher (Chris) William Johnson. Barbara passed away September 2003.
He is survived by a daughter Cindy Johnson of Mission Hills, KS; two sons, Chad Johnson (Brandy) of Dallas TX, and Chris Johnson (Marcy) of Evansville, IN; adopted daughter Patricia M. Maroney (Eric) of Jenks, OK; seven grandchildren, Ford Johnson, Royce Johnson, Cale Johnson, Addie Johnson, Drake Johnson, Matthew Maroney, and Amy Maroney; a sister Nancy J. Larson of Hiawatha, KS and a brother Lynn R. Johnson (Jackie) of Mission Hills, KS; as well as his nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Inez Johnson, wife Barbara L. Milner Johnson, a brother-in-law Delbert L. Larson and niece Teresa J. Larson.
Everyone that knew him, respected him for his values, strength, helping people in need, his sense of humor, love of hunting, building things, driving too fast, and his love of dogs. He was a friend and mentor to so many, and a beloved father and grandfather to his family. He succumbed to illness after cancer surgery, and Beverly Jean Robinson, his love, was by his side every day of the long illness.
Chapel Service: Thursday, November 3, 2016 at 3:00 pm at the funeral home in Oberlin with Pastor Gordon Pettibone officiating and Masonic Rites by Mountain Slope Lodge #186.
Reception: The family will be greeting friends and relatives after the service at the Gateway Civic Center in Oberlin from 5:00-7:00 pm.
Memorial Fund: In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to Mountain Slope Lodge #186, 109 W. Commercial Street, Oberlin, KS 67749.
Cards and Condolences may be sent to the family c/o Cindy Johnson at 2801 W. 68th Street, Mission Hills, KS 66208.
By BECKY KISER
By BECKY KISER