Dr. Eldon Dwight Johnson

Dr. Eldon Dwight Johnson, 90, of Cumming, GA went home to be with Jesus on Thursday, July 21, 2016. A career educator, Eldon was a generous Christian man and a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend. He was born March 25, 1926 in Richland Center, WI to the late Ed and Faye Johnson. He graduated from Richland Center High School in 1943 and went on to attend Indiana Central College. His education was interrupted when he joined the U.S. Army to proudly serve his country during WWII from 1944-1947. He served as a Staff Sergeant in the Sixth Infantry Division in the Philippines and in the occupation of Korea in 1945. Eldon married Patricia Hamby of Camp Hill, AL on August 17, 1947. They moved to Indianapolis, IN for him to resume his education where he was also a member of the baseball team for Indiana Central. Upon his graduation in 1950 they moved to Dadeville, AL where he began his career as a teacher, coach, principal and administrator. He taught at Daviston High School in Tallapoosa County, AL and Heard County High School in Franklin, GA; was the principal at both Wadsworth Elementary School and Hambrick Elementary School in DeKalb County, GA; served as a consultant in North Georgia training paraprofessionals to work with handicapped children; and was the Director of Instruction for Auburn City Schools, Alabama from 1970-1975. He finished his career at the Alabama State Department of Education as Director of "Right to Read," and later was named Director of Student Instructional Services, a position he held until he retired in 1987. In 1952 Dr. Johnson earned his Masters Degree in School Administration from Alabama Polytechnic Institute, now Auburn University; and in 1967 his Doctors Degree in Leadership and Administration was conferred by Auburn University. He and his wife Pat were happily married for 64 years. During his retirement they lived in Dadeville, AL and enjoyed golf, family, and traveling in their motorhome to all 50 state capitals, nearly all of the National Parks, and all of the Presidential libraries and museums that existed at that time. He truly lived the American dream. In addition to his parents, Eldon was preceded in death by his wife Pat, sister Avis, who died as a child, and brother Gary. He is survived by sons Stanley (Candy) Johnson of Archer, FL and Phillip (Barbara) Johnson of Dawsonville, GA; sisters Carol Wheeler of Atlanta and Marlys (Harry) Kitts of Orange Beach, AL; grandsons Josh Johnson of Auburn, AL, Tony (Beverly) Johnson of Cumming, GA and Phil Johnson of Atlanta; great grandchildren Jonah & Eleanor Johnson of Cumming, GA; and his best friend of the past three years Sue Tomlinson of Cumming. Eldon loved the Lord and was a member of Red Ridge UMC in Dadeville, AL and had been attending Mount Pisgah UMC in Johns Creek, GA with his family since moving to the Atlanta area. The funeral service for Eldon Johnson will be Sunday, July 24 at 1:00 pm at Red Ridge UMC in Dadeville, AL, officiated by Rev. John Mann. The family will receive friends in the church Fellowship Hall prior to the service. A memorial service for Atlanta area friends and family will be held Monday, July 25 at Ingram Funeral Home Chapel in Cumming, GA at 4:00 pm, officiated by Rev. Steve Wood. The family will receive friends at the funeral home beginning at 2:00 pm. Interment will be at Parkhill Cemetery in Columbus, GA. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to Red Ridge UMC 8091 County Road #34, Dadeville AL 36853; or the Tallapoosa County Girls Ranch, 174 Samford Dr., Camp Hill, AL 36850. Ingram Funeral Home & Crematory, Cumming, Georgia is in charge of arrangements. Visitation DetailsMonday, July 25th, 2016, 2:00pm - 4:00pm, Ingram Funeral Home Service DetailsMonday, July 25th, 2016, 4:00pm, Ingram Funeral Home Interment DetailsParkhill Cemetery