William Louis "Bill" Johnson

William Louis "Bill" Johnson, 85, of Chanute, Kan., died Sunday, Sept.4, 2005, at the Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center.

He was born Aug. 11, 1920, in Chanute, Kan., the son of William A. Johnson and Edna F. (Brinegar) Johnson.

He was raised in Chanute and attended Chanute elementary schools and Chanute High School. He served in the United States Navy during World War Il in the Southeast Pacific Theater from May 24, 1944 to April 20, 1946 on the U.S.S. Menifee.

After the war, he returned home and married Treva Garrett on June 16, 1946, in Chanute, Kan.

He worked as a conductor for the Santa Fe Railroad retiring after 37 years with the company. After he retired he worked another 17 years for senior services of Southeast Kansas, delivering meals in Iola, Moran and the surrounding area. He was a member of the VFW Post No. 1654, American Legion Post No. 170, Masonic Lodge No.103 AF & AM, Order of the Eastern Star Sunflower Chapter, the United Transportation Union and a former member of the Colfax Baptist Church.

He is survived by his wife, Treva Johnson of the home; son, Gary D. Johnson of Kansas City, Kan.; daughter, Debra Fairchild of Joplin, Mo.; four grandchildren; one stepgrandson; and two great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by two sisters, Wildis Erickson and Arla Jackson and four brothers, Ralph, Oren, Mark, and Lee Johnson.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m., Friday, Sept. 9, at the Penwell-Gabel Gibson Chapel, with the Rev. R.A. Peffley officiating. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery on East Fourteenth Street. Military honors will be presented by Cecil J. Meeker Post No. 1654 VFW.

The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until service time on Friday at the mortuary.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society in care of the mortuary.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Penwell-Gabel Gibson Chapel.