Donald Elmer Johnson

Donald E. Johnson was born June 21, 1925, the son of Bertha M. and Elmer E. Johnson of Glen Rock, NJ. He graduated from Ridgewood High School, Ridgewood, NJ in 1943 and after World War II, attended Syracuse University. In 1950, he married Marilyn E. Whyland of Arlington, NJ. Surviving are his wife Marilyn, and a son Donald E. and his wife, Elaine Hilmer of Exton, PA, daughters Linda E. Johnson of Grosse Pointe Farms, MI and Wendy M. Johnson of Kalamazoo, MI. There are three grandchildren, Robert W Ingalls of Grosse Pointe Farms, MI, Chelsea R. Osorio (Favio) of Charlotte, North Carolina and Zachary D. Johnson also of Charlotte, North Carolina. Don enlisted in the US Army while in high school, and immediately after graduating, entered the service for World War II in July of 1943. He was discharged in 1946 and was a 2nd Lt. in the US Army Reserve when he transferred his commission to the US Air Force Reserve in 1948. He served as a First Lieutenant in the US Air Force during the Korean War from 1950 to 1953 and retired from the Air Force as a Captain. In September of 1953 he was hired in New York by The Upjohn Company and held positions as Salesman and District Manager in New York and Assistant Sales Manager in New York and Boston. He was promoted to Sales Manager in Boston in 1964 and in 1967 was transferred to New York as Sales Manager. In 1969 he transferred to Kalamazoo, MI to assist in the creation and development of the Consumer Products Division. He was appointed National Sales Director, Consumer Products in 1971 and was also Director of National Accounts, Domestic Pharmaceutical Marketing. He received the W.E. Upjohn Award in 1963 and retired in 1987 with 34 years of service. He was a member of the Psi Psi Chapter of the Sigma Chi Fraternity, The Michigan Seniors Golf Association, Kalamazoo Macintosh Users Group, The American Philately Society, Vasa Order of America and The Moors Golf Club. His hobbies included golf, golf club repair, Macintosh computers, traveling, photography, and philately. Don died on October 27, 2015. Cremation has taken place. The family has had a private celebration of his life.