CHESTER KENNETH JOHNSON, 96 years of age of Ypsilanti, MI, was called home early Tuesday morning, March 29, 2011. He passed away peacefully at the Tender Care Nursing Home in Taylor, MI. Chester was born October 9, 1914 in Marrowbone, KY, to the late Emery E. and Jesse Maynor Johnson. Chester was a longtime resident of Harman, VA, moving to South Point, OH in 1952 and in 1968, he moved to Lincoln Park, MI. After the death of his wife, Delma, Chester moved back to Harman where he married for the second time. He moved back to Michigan in 1994.

Mr. Johnson served in the United States Army during World War II. He was honorably discharged October 22, 1945, attaining the rank of Private First Class and receiving the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Ribbon and the Good Conduct Medal. He was a member of the Bull Creek Old Regular Baptist Church, Harman, VA, for over 70-years. Chester was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather and was a coal miner, shoe cobbler, worked in produce and was a retired employee of McClouth Steel of Trenton, MI.  

Chester was special to all of us. He was a great father, a fine Christian man, a family patriarch, a World War II Veteran and a great American. Forever missed…..never forgotten!!!

He was preceded in death by his first wife, the mother of his children, Delma Belcher Johnson, 1978, and his second wife, Marie Clevinger Johnson in 1994.

He is survived by 2-Daughters: Joyce Johnson Osborne, Ecorse, MI, Betty Johnson and husband Jim Smith, Charlotte, NC, 2-Sons: Kenneth D. and wife Helen Johnson, Flatwoods, KY, Emory Fred and wife Barbara Johnson, Ypsilanti, MI, 1-Sister: Pauline Johnson Baldridge, Versailles, KY

Chester also has a multitude of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by 2-Brothers: Clayton C. Johnson and Kermit Johnson.

Funeral Services for CHESTER KENNETH JOHNSON will be conducted Saturday, April 2, 2011 at 11:00 A.M. at the Grundy Funeral Home Chapel with Elders: Roger Coleman, Jackie Yates and Jimmy Dale Sanders officiating with burial to follow in the Clevinger Cemetery on Belcher’s Fork, Harman, VA.

Friends may call at the Grundy Funeral Home Chapel Thursday evening at 6:00 P.M. with services Thursday and Friday evenings at 7:00 P.M.

Active Pallbearers will be Fred Johnson, Chris Garrick, Johnny Osborne, Kevin Smith, Charlie Mills, Danny Cline, Teddy Ray Newsome, Larry Lee Newsome, Rusty Clevinger, Terry Michael Newsome, Anthony Ramey and Shannon Prater.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Shawn Pittman, Carl Anderson, Homer Newsome, Kermit Clevinger, Ronnie Belcher, Jimmy Belcher, Adam Stambough, Dewey Looney, Kenny Prater, Joe Osborne, Tommy Joe Clevinger, Randy Looney and Richard Stambough.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.grundyfuneralhome.com

Grundy Funeral Home of Grundy, Virginia is in charge of all arrangements.