Dr. James R. Johnson, Sr.

Robert A. Waters Funeral Home

Obituaries | The Tube City Almanac | March 20, 2017

Dr. James R. Johnson, Sr., 85 years old of McKeesport, Pennsylvania, departed this Earthly life Friday, March 17, 2017 in Riverside Nursing Center, McKeesport. He was born August 13, 1931 in Leasburg, NC, son of the late Robert G. and Lilly B. Garland Johnson.

 James was a long-time member of Mt. Olive First Baptist Church, a member of Chi Delta Mu Fraternity and a former member of the F.R.O.G.S club Pittsburgh, PA. He proudly served in the United States Army during the Korean War Era, where he was stationed in Germany. He obtained his B.S. at Morris Brown College, Atlanta, GA. and went on to receive his M.D. from Howard University Medical School, Washington, D.C. and completed his residency at Freeman Hospital, Washington, D.C. He was an emergency medicine physician at McKeesport Hospital and former staff member of both Kane and Jefferson Region Hospitals. He also had a private practice for over 45 years, which served many residents in McKeesport and surrounding areas.

Survivors include his loving wife of 66 years, Viola Sledge Johnson; children, James (Melinda) Johnson, Jr., Yvonne Curry of Swissvale, Kevin (Romona) Johnson, Gerald (Mary Ann) Johnson of White Oak, Karen Johnson of McKeesport, and Joy (Archie) Earl of Columbia, MD; nineteen grandchildren, twenty-nine great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and many loving friends.

Friends will be received tomorrow at 10:00 am in the Mt. Olive 1st Baptist Church, 451 Park Ave., Clairton, PA, where services will be conducted at 12:00 noon.

Interment will follow in the McKeesport & Versailles Cemetery, McKeesport.

Arrangements entrusted to the Robert A. Waters Funeral Home, Inc., McKeesport, PA

Originally published March 20, 2017.

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