Obituary
Willard T. (Tom) Johnson, 91, died peacefully, surrounded by his family, after a hard-fought battle with cancer on Sunday, September 24, 2023. He was born in Dorton, Kentucky in 1932 to William and Elizabeth Johnson. He was a proud veteran of the Korean Conflict, serving for two years in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) before returning to the U.S. to complete his commitment to the U.S. Army. Following his stint in the military, he met the love of his life, Helen (Miracle). They were married in 1958 and were married for 61 years until Helen’s death in 2019. Shortly after they wed, they moved to Richmond, KY, where Tom completed his degree in accounting from Eastern Kentucky University. After graduation, Tom and Helen returned for Fort Wayne where they raised their family. He worked for International Harvester, later Navistar, for 33 years, retiring in 1996 to spend more time with his family. He was a constant presence in their lives, always offering encouragement, praise and words of support. His greatest joy was spending time with his family. His grandchildren called him Pa, a title he loved and cherished. He will be incredibly missed. He is survived by a son, Eric Johnson, daughter and son-in-law, Valerie and Dr. William Terando, grandchildren Marissa (Taylor) and Johnathan. He is also survived by three siblings, sister, Vivette (Roland) LeClerc; brothers, Everett (Phyllis) Johnson and Douglas (Ann) Johnson; and sister-in-law & brother-in-law, Nancy and Robert Compton. He was preceded in death by his wife, Helen; brother, Lee Johnson; and sisters, Violet Kibiger and Vida Johnson. Visitation and services will take place at Covington Memorial Funeral Home, 8408 Covington Road, Fort Wayne Indiana. Visitation will be Friday, September 29 from 1 to 3 p.m., with funeral services immediately following, beginning at 3 p.m. Preferred Memorials are Accent Hospice Care of Indiana LLC, 2629 Waterfront Parkway East Drive, Suite 375 Indianapolis, IN 46214. The family would like to thank Accent Hospice for their attentive and incomparable care of Tom in his final days.