Stephen F. Johnson

Stephen Johnson of Prattville, AL was born June 13, 1945, in Milwaukee, WI. His family moved to Memphis, TN, soon after his birth. He was raised in Memphis and lived there into his adult life before joining the U.S. Army. He is a Vietnam combat veteran, earning a Bronze Star with Valor for Heroism for exhibiting bravery under fire during the Tet Offensive in 1968. After his tour of duty, he returned home to Memphis and attended computer school, earning an associate degree. He married his wife of 51 years, Barbara J. Atkins, in Memphis on August 23, 1970. Shortly thereafter, he once again decided to serve his country by joining the U.S. Air Force. During this time, the computer industry was still a revolutionary new industry. He was a pioneer in the computer industry and earned numerous awards and accolades. He along with a few of his colleagues designed a computer program in the early 1970s, while in the Air Force, called CAMS. This system or a variant thereof, is still in service to this day with the U.S. Air Force and her allies. He retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1988 at the rank of MSGT and joined the UNISYS corporation as a systems analyst. He quickly rose through the ranks at UNISYS before retiring from there. He then became a Federal Civil Servant and worked at Gunter AFB. His favorite assignment as a civil servant was working as the Subject Matter Expert Liaison with the Royal Dutch Air Force. He enjoyed visiting Holland and interacting with his colleagues at the RDAF. He remained highly active throughout his adult life and enjoyed spending time with his granddaughters and great granddaughter. He loved cars and anything to do with innovative technology. He had a soft spot for animals and the less fortunate and would often find a family in need and provide them a nice Christmas. Few people knew of this, as he did not seek the spotlight, he simply provided from the goodness of his heart. He is preceded in death by his brother: Dr. James R. Johnson of Memphis TN, his stepfather: John M. Brown and his mother: Lucille Brown, both of Memphis, TN. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Barbara J. Johnson, His son, Mitchell S. Johnson and his wife Abbie Foshee-Johnson, His Granddaughter, Kirsten T. Boyd and her Husband Jamie Boyd of Fairhope, AL, His Granddaughter Kaitlyn N. Phillips and her Husband Elijah Phillips of Rockford, AL, his Grandson Patrick Foshee of Tuscaloosa AL, and his Great-Granddaughter Kinsley T. Phillips, His nieces, Tiffany Johnson, and Caroline Johnson, both of Memphis, TN. We know he is looking down from heaven and celebrating the birth of his Great Grandson, James Fischer Boyd, born December 10, 2021, the day after his passing. He loved God, He loved his Country, and He loved his family. May he rest in peace.

Stephen F. Johnson

June 13, 1945 - December 9, 2021