Ronald Johnson - Obituary

onald “Ron” Gordon Johnson, Sr., a resident of Harwood, died at his home on Monday, November 18, 2013. Ron was born on May 20, 1947 in Riverdale, MD to Paula Myers and the late John W. Johnson. He was a 1965 graduate of Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, where he was a member of the Track and Field Team and competed in the events of shot put, discus and javelin. After graduation he attended Montgomery College where he lettered in Track and Field. He also set a Tri-State Conference and regional record with a javelin throw of 184’ 5”. Ron retired from C.I. Design of Beltsville as a Construction Superintendent. His interests included, golf, hunting, and fishing. He was also an avid Washington Senator/Nationals, and Redskins fan and also enjoyed University of Maryland football and basketball. He enjoyed tenpin and duckpin bowling, and was a member at one time of both the Men’s Tenpin Pro Tour as well as the Duckpin Professional Bowlers Association. He was a DPBA Pro Tour winner at “T” Bowl, two-time winner of the Rebel Open, winner of the Presidential Open, Winner of the Severna Park Open Doubles, Champion of the GWDA City Singles and co-holder of the 4 game Mixed Doubles World record with his wife Theresa Vermillion Johnson. His highest duckpin ranking was 16th and he was a winner of 16 other tournaments. Ron was an assistant coach for UYC baseball in 1994, and also coached youth duckpin bowling as well as mentoring numerous young men and women in the sport. He also played semi-pro softball and was a member of the Pollack Johnny’s softball team. Ron was preceded in death by his father, John W. Johnson and his daughter, Shelly Lynn Johnson. He is survived by his wife and soul mate Theresa Vermillion Johnson, whom he married at the home of her parents in Harwood in February of 2009. The couple met while duckpin bowling. Also survived by one son, Ronald Gordon Johnson, Jr. “RJ” of Crownsville, two step-sons; Tommy Pearson and his wife Lucy of Deale, and Travis Pearson and his wife Lindsay of Edgewater, his mother Paula Myers and sister Sandra Johnson, both of of Lake Havasu City, AZ, seven grandchildren; Tyler, Colten Colton and Tara Raines of Cash, Arkansas, Devin Keller of Edgewater, Maggie Pearson of Deale and Isabella Pearson of Edgewater and several aunts and uncles. Friends are invited to Ron’s Celebration of Life on Tuesday, November 26 from 11am until a memorial service begins at 12pm at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater, MD. Interment private. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to SPCA of Anne Arundel County, 1815 Bay Ridge Ave., Annapolis, MD 21403 or to the American Cancer Society at 1041 Route 3 North, Bldg. A, Gambrills, MD 21054.