Van Alan Johnson

Van Alan Johnson, 72, native and long-time resident of Reidsville NC, passed away as dusk faded the evening of Monday, July 16th. He was resting peacefully in Loveland CO with his son by his side. Van wished to be cremated, his ashes to be scattered in Colorado. A memorial celebration for family and friends will be held in Reidsville, 2:00-4:00 P.M., on Saturday, July 21, 2018, at Wilkerson Funeral Home. Mr. Johnson was born April 6, 1946, in Reidsville, Rockingham County to Hessie Mae (maiden name, Loftis) and Weldon Alexander Johnson. He graduated from Reidsville Senior High School. He served honorably during the Vietnam War with the USAF as an Aircraft Maintenance Specialist stationed at Sheppard AFB, TX; Clark Air Base, the Philippines; and Andrews AFB, Washington DC. Following his service, he earned the degree of Associate in Applied Science in Commercial Art and Advertising Design Technology from the Technical Institute of Alamance. His career included work as a machinist, commercial artist, motorcycle mechanic, and design artist for sales of furniture manufacture machinery. Van enjoyed family and friends, walks in the woods with his dogs, playing guitar, motorcycle touring, and a variety of repair, restoration, and wood working projects. He was a creative free spirit who lived life on his own terms. He was preceded in death by his mother, Hessie Barber and husband George; father, Weldon Johnson and wife Pearl; brother-in-law Robert A. Ross and nephew Allen Vincent Ross. He is survived by his son, Jason and wife Patricia, and their daughters Kyleigh and Cherise; sister Betty J. Horton (husband Harold); brothers, Ray Johnson (former wife Betty) and George Barber II (wife Roxanne); former wife Brenda Stephens (husband Larry); nieces and nephews—Gina Morton, Karen Wheby, Julie Hall, Marlene Allen, Rachel Martin, George Barber III, Sarah Truitt—and their spouses and children. Tribute gifts can be made to the Lymphoma Research Foundation www.lymphoma.org.