Joseph Paul Johnson

Retired Master Chief Joseph Paul Johnson, US Navy, 60, of 202 Curtis Creek Road, Candler, died Sunday, November 21, 2004, at Memorial Mission Hospital. Mr. Johnson was born in Buncombe County and was a son of the late James W. Johnson. Following his graduation from Enka High School he joined the Navy and served 26 years, including a tour in Vietnam, until retiring in Guam in 1988. He and his family moved to Lemoore, CA, where he worked for the California State Prison System until returning to Asheville in March, 2002. He is survived by his mother, Thelma Morgan Johnson of Candler, with whom he made his home and who loved and cared for him during his struggles with Parkinson’s Disease; four daughters, Michelle Johnson of Fresno, CA, Murphy Preisendorf of Merced, CA, and Jennifer Gregori and Jeanette Johnson, both of Los Angeles, CA; two sisters, Wilma J. Foster and Gloria Jean Johnson, both of Candler; two brothers, Robert Floyd Johnson of Candler and Earl Louis Johnson of Limestone, TN; and two grandchildren, Malia Preisendorf and Kieran (Joe) Gregori. The funeral service will be at 6:00 p.m. Monday in the Patton Avenue chapel of Groce Funeral Home with the Rev. Bobby Winebarger officiating. Military honors will be provided by the Asheville High School Marine JROTC Unit at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church Cemetery. His family will receive friends Monday evening at the funeral home immediately following the service. Memorials may be made to the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, William Black Medical Building, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, 710 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032-9982.