Neil H. Johnson

Neil H. Johnson
Neil H. Johnson, 81, of Akron, passed away October 9, 2012. Neil was born in Haywood, West Virginia and grew up in Masontown, Pennsylvania before moving to Akron. He graduated from Central High School and then enlisted in the U.S. Navy and proudly served his country during the Korean War. He worked in both accounting and production for the Ohio Edison Company for over 35 years. Neil had a great sense of humor, was an avid golfer, and he enjoyed his friends in the Stow Senior Golf League and kept things running smoothly. Neil enjoyed his time in the Akron Jaycees, as band booster president, and chaperone for the Field High Royal Gardsmen and Defensive Driving Instructor for the National Safety Council. Some of his fondest memories are his time with the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps, traveling the country selling items from the souvenir stand and listening to the corps play "Autumn Leaves". He was a Bluecoats Hall of Fame Inductee, as well as Drum Corps International Volunteer of the Year, and inducted in 2011 to the Canton Police Boys Club Hall of Fame. Neil's biggest passion was volunteering with the Boy Scouts of America and serving as Chief Campmaster at Camp Manatoc. He was very proud of starting a museum at Camp and hoped his legacy there would be a lasting one.
Neil was preceded in death by his parents, Ira Ray Johnson and Grace Spoerndle; daughter, Dorothy Markuson; brother, Jay Johnson; and sister, Betty LaVerne Johnson. He will be deeply missed by his friend of 55 years, Iva L. Johnson; daughters, Shirley (Howard) Merritt, Charlotte Johnson, Nancy Johnson, Tracy Johnson; sister, Sally (Angelo) Antognoli; brother, Leslie (Carole) Johnson; and grandchildren, Lynne, Lisa, Hope, Jacob, Matthew, Michael, Megan, Bree, Summer, and Rocky; five great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be Thursday October 11 from 5-7 followed by a 7:00 p.m. funeral service with Dr. David Rice officiating at NEWCOMER FUNERAL HOME, 131 N. Canton Rd. Interment will take place at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery on Friday at 10:00 a.m. Procession will form at Newcomer Funeral Home at 9:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made for "Neil's Museum", payable to the Great Trail Council, 1601 South Main St., Akron, OH 44309, ATTN: Jim Shimko, or the Justin T. Rogers Hospice Center, 3358 Ridgewood Rd., Akron, OH 44333.