Ray Elvin Johnson, age 88, of 188 Flat Road, Clifton Forge, Virginia died Friday, October 29, 2021 at St. Marys Hospital in Richmond, Virginia.
Ray was born July 21, 1933 in Botetourt County, Virginia to the late Henry E. and Lula Terry Johnson.
He was a brakeman for the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad for 42 years and a member of Iron Gate Baptist Church.
Ray served in the Army for two years and the Army Reserves for eight years.
He was a life member of the Clifton Forge Elks Lodge B.P.O.E. #1065 and the store manager at Virginia Supply for 12 years.
Ray loved reading his Bible, bowling, playing pool, being outdoors and was a San Francisco 49ers fan.
Ray was well loved in the community and enjoyed talking to people.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Glenna Jewell Bryant Johnson; four brothers, Charles, Henry Jr., Elwood and Michael; two sisters, Lucille Bryant and Brenda Hoke.
He is survived by three sons, Jerry Johnson and wife, Mary of Clifton Forge, Greg Johnson and wife, Kathy of Iron Gate, and Mark Johnson and wife, Patty of Covington; a daughter, Sharon Wells and husband, Harold of Covington; three sisters, Dorothy Bryant, Nancy Swoope, Irma Brown and her husband, Barry; two brothers, Ralph and his wife, Mary and Fred and his wife, Lucille; seven grandchildren; two step grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, November 2, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel of Nicely Funeral Home, Clifton Forge, with Pastor David Hanks and Pastor Teddy Bias officiating. Interment will follow in Iron Gate Hill Cemetery, Botetourt County.
Pallbearers will be: E. R. Gilbert, Charlie Brown, Dakota Bryant, Bill Bryant, Chad Bryant, Travis Bryant, Darrell Campbell and Phillip Williams. The family will receive friends on Monday evening from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Nicely Funeral Home and anytime at the residence, 188 Flat Road, Clifton Forge, VA 24422.
The family suggests memorial tributes take the form of contributions to the Iron Gate Baptist Church Building Fund, P. O. Box 193, Iron Gate, VA 24448.
