Ronald F. Johnson

Ronald Francis Johnson, 75, a lifelong resident of Newport passed away April 26th at Sullivan County Nursing Home.  Ronnie was born in Newport on March 19, 1941, the son, and youngest child, of the late George and Anna (Fontaine) Johnson.

Ronnie married Judith (Judy) Gagnon in 1961 and they were blessed with 22 years of marriage before her tragic death in an automobile accident in 1983.  He was the love of her life and together they had one daughter that was his world.  In 1991 Ronnie remarried Colleen Robbins, and they shared 17 wonderful years together before dementia took control and he went to live at Summercrest Assisted Living in Newport, and later to Sullivan County Nursing Home. 

Ronnie held a few different jobs over the years, but most notably at Sturm Ruger and L.E. Weed & Sons which he retired from in 2007.  He was an avid deer hunter and looked forward every year to spending time with his hunting buddies in Unity, Maine.  He was a member of the Foresters of America for many years, and in his younger days could often be found there playing cards with friends.  Ronnie plowed snow for years and always made sure that the older folks in the neighborhood were taken care of, he would plow driveways before he went to work in the mornings and plow them again before he came home at night.

Ronnie was predeceased by two sisters, Margaret (Johnson) Barton and Louise (Johnson) Dunphy; two brothers and their wives, Raymond (Jimmy) & Inza (Hemingway) Johnson and Richard & Elsie (Hemingway) Johnson; a very special nephew Bruce Johnson and a great-nephew Dean Johnson. 

He is survived by his wife of 24 years, Colleen, his daughter Ronna Johnson-Davis and her husband, J.R., his two grandsons, which he adored, Tanner Austin Davis & Brady Field Davis all of Virginia, a brother-in-law Bernard Dunphy, a nephew Jim Johnson and his wife, Nat; a niece Carrie Ann (Johnson) Brown all of Newport, and several great nieces and nephews and cousins.
 
A graveside service will be held on Saturday, April 30, 2016 at 11:00 A.M. in Pine Grove Cemetery, Newport, NH.

The family wishes to express their sincere thanks to Sullivan County Healthcare for the exceptional care he received, and to Dr. Lawrence Schissel, his primary doctor, for the wonderful care he has provided over many years.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Alzheimer’s Association, 166 South River Road Suite 210, Bedford, NH  03110.
Newton-Bartlett Funeral Home of Newport, NH is assisting the family with arrangements.

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