Paul David Johnson

Paul David Johnson, devoted and loving husband of Gertrude (Trudy) Elisabeth Johnson, went home to be with his Lord on January 10, 2017.  Paul was born in New Britain, CT to Fridolph and Florence (Edman) Johnson on March 2, 1923.  He was confirmed in the Christian faith at Bethany Covenant Church in 1937 and contributed to the life and work of Bethany for most of his life.  He graduated from New Britain High School in 1941 and went to work for his father, apprenticing in the trade of pattern making.  In 1943, he enlisted in the United States Navy.  His naval service during World War II was in the Lighter-than-Air operations, Fleet Airship Wing Four, with duty stations including Lakehurst, NJ, Igarape Assu, Brazil, and South Weymouth, MA.

In 1945, Paul met Trudy on the Hilltop of the Covenant camp in Cromwell, CT.  They were married in Providence, RI in 1947 and resided in New Britain until 1958 when he moved their growing family to Berlin into the house that he and Trudy had designed and which he constructed with the help of just a few other tradesmen.  There they raised their children: Wilma, Burton, Peter, and Robin.  Paul worked as a pattern maker his entire life, for some years operating his own business, Johnson Pattern and Model.  He retired in 1988.  Shortly thereafter Paul and Trudy relocated to Florida.  After three years in Florida, their love of New England and their church brought them back to Kensington where they lived until 2009 when they became residents of Covenant Village of Cromwell.

Paul was loved by everybody who knew him.  He was gregarious and engaging, making friends wherever he found himself. He exuded warmth, had an instinct for finding common ground, and could start a conversation of substance with just about anybody.   He lived his life with genuine curiosity and unrelenting creativity.   He studied and marveled at grand human endeavors such as the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge and the Panama Canal; and he applied his interests and skills to simple joys of life, such as building his own sailboat or making toys for children.  He used his natural mechanical giftedness, honed by years of precise and complex woodworking, to restore antiques, repair the irreparable, or seed solutions to vexing design problems.  And despite a limited formal education, he confidently practiced in multiple fields of engineering, architecture, parliamentary procedure, product design, and construction management!  He loved sacred choral music and it wasn’t uncommon to hear him humming a bass line from Bach’s Mass in b minor.  Paul dearly loved his church and family.  Above all else, he loved his God and served Him with an unshakable faith and integrity.

His nearly 94 years were a sweet gift to his family and the many communities, organizations, and individuals that were part of the beautiful fabric of his life.  He leaves a legacy of kindness, selflessness, godliness, and tangible contributions.

Paul is survived by his wife, Trudy, his four children: Wilma C. Johnson (John Short) of Vero Beach, FL, Burton P. Johnson (Janice) of Wethersfield, CT, Peter E. Johnson of Kensington, CT, and Robin E. (Michael) Magnusson of Northfield, IL.; his sister, Doris Johnson of Cromwell; four grandchildren: Anneli and Per Johnson and Liesel and Annika Magnusson; sisters-in-law Virginia Anderson and Karen Johnson, both of Cromwell, six first cousins, and ten nieces and nephews.  He was predeceased by his beloved brother and lifelong co-engineer, Burton C. Johnson.

A service celebrating his life and bearing witness to the resurrection will be held on Saturday, January 21, 2017, at 2:00 p.m. at Bethany Covenant Church, 785 Mill Street, Berlin, CT.  Memorial contributions may be made to Pilgrim Pines Conference Center, Bethany Covenant Church, or the Benevolent Care Fund of Covenant Village of Cromwell.