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D.R."Red" Johnson, 86, a resident of Albuquerque since 1920, passed away quietly in his sleep early in the morning of Sunday, February 14, 1999. Red came to New Mexico in 1920 from Louisville, KY with his parents, Frederick Edgar Johnson and Theodosia Pearl, his sister and three brothers. Red went to work for Bill Cutter at Cutter Airfield, now the Albuquerque Sunport, during the early days of pioneer aviation. He organized the first Glider Club in New Mexico. At the age of 17, he moved on to work for Hutchinson Fruit Company. It was on a trip through Mountainair that he spotted the love of his life, Dorothy Maxwell. They were married in 1934, and"the man who made her laugh" brought the little farm girl to the city. Not long after they married, Red came down with tuberculosis. Red was one of the early TB patients treated by surgery to remove the dread lung disease and his surgery was successful. He chose the field of Advertising Specialty Sales, and became the local expert on calendars, pens, pencils, and such. Red lost Dorothy to ovarian cancer in 1989, 55 years after she first came into his life. Red began to struggle with life on his own after symptoms of Alzheimers began to surface several years ago. He is survived by his two daughters, Pamela Wolfe and husband, Morris of Las Cruces and Judy Bell and husband, Carl of San Diego, CA; granddaughters, Kimberly Jackson, Alexandra Bell, and Kristen Bell; and great-granddaughter, Taylor Campbell. He was preceded in death by his sister, Opal Charlotte Johnson; brothers, Quinton Edgar, Albuquerque Police Department Retired Deputy Chief M. Fred Johnson, and retired Albuquerque Bus Driver Harry LeeRoy Johnson. Services will be held Saturday, 10:30 a.m., at French Mortuary, University Blvd. Chapel, 1111 University Blvd. NE with Rev. Mike Mullen officiating. A eulogy will be delivered by Rev. T.H. Chapman of Midland, TX. Interment will follow at Fairview Memorial Park and then family and friends will gather at Furr's Cafeteria, San Mateo and Montgomery, to remember"the red head" at his very favorite place to eat. Friends may visit French Mortuary, 1111 University Blvd NE, Friday, 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., and the family will be present from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
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