Russell Eugene Johnson, age 90, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, December 19, 2017, at the Olathe Medical Center in Olathe, Kansas. He was born August 1, 1927, in Fulton, Kansas, the son of Andrew Webb Johnson and Flora Gump Johnson. While in high school, Russell began working for the railroad. He later joined the United States Navy and served during World War II. Following his service with the Navy, he returned to Kansas and worked for the Frisco Railroad which later became the Burlington Northern Railroad. He married Lena Wheeler on August 12, 1951, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Russell attended the Fulton United Methodist Church as a small child when it was newly built. He returned to it when he and his wife, moved to Ft. Scott for his work. The people there have been his spiritual, emotional and social support for many years. Each one was very dear to him. Russell had an interest in local history and the Linn County Museum of Pleasanton has a display devoted to Russell and his family history in honor of the work he and his son did at the museum. Russell also looked forward to the annual Burlington Alumni gatherings. After the death of his wife, Lena, in March of 2016, Russell moved to the Presbyterian Village in Ft. Scott where he was warmly welcomed. He developed many close friendships in his short time there.
Survivors include his daughter, Debra Johnson-Dobrowsky and her husband, Rick Dobrowsky, of Olathe and two grandchildren Lauren and Dana Dobrowsky. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lena; a son, Stephen Johnson and a sister, Vinita Butler.
Rev. Chuck Russell and Pastor Connie Edgerton will conduct funeral services at 10:30 A.M. Saturday, December 23rd at the Fulton United Methodist Church. A graveside service will be held at 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, December 26th at the U. S. National Cemetery in Ft. Scott. Memorials are suggested to Heart to Heart and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.