Obituary of Fred R. Johnson, Jr.

Fred Robert Johnson Jr., 72, of Rivesville, passed away Tuesday, September 19, 2023, at Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, WV. He was born February 22, 1951, in Fairmont, WV, a son of the late Fred R. Johnson and Bessie M. Hawkins Johnson. He is survived by his loving wife, Mary D. Parfitt Johnson. Fred was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church of Fairmont. He retired in 1986 from the Peabody Coal Company where he held his electrical license and worked as a coal miner for the Federal #1 Mine until its closing. He then became a licensed EMT and worked with the Marion County Rescue Squad for over ten years at an administrator. He then returned to coal mining with the Federal #2 Mine. Fred loved to be outside, he was always “tinkering” around the house. He enjoyed working on the pool and keeping up the yard. He was a very active volunteer with the Fairmont Soup Opera where he had served at vice-president. After retirement, Fred worked with Ford Funeral Home as a funeral attendant up until his illness. He was dedicated to serving the families of the Rivesville community. He loved WVU sports, road trips with his family, but most of all, Fred loved to spoil his grandchildren and was always supporting them in all their activities. Fred is survived by his faithful canine companion, Leelo Mae. In addition to his wife, Fred is survived by his daughters, Barbara Johnson Presley of Rivesville, and Lisa (Chad) Johnson of Rivesville, his sisters, Freda (Joseph) Volek, and Brenda (William) Bock, three grandchildren, Brian Presley, Brea Presley, and Emma Johnson, his sister-in-law Barbara Sisco of Philadelphia, PA, along with several nieces and nephews as well as his Ford Funeral Home family. In addition to his parents, Fred is preceded in death by his sons, John David Johnson, and James “Jay” Walter Johnson, and, his brother, Van Johnson, and his close cousins and best friends, Jim and Katherine “Sis” Wright. Memorial contributions can be made to the Fairmont Soup Opera, 425 Quincy Street P.O. Box 10, Fairmont, West Virginia 26554. The Family has entrusted the arrangements to the Ford Funeral Home, DeGarmo Chapel, 207 Second Street, Rivesville, WV 26588. All services will be held privately. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.fordfuneralhomes.com.