George J. Johnson, 1917 - 2000

Ex-mayor of Liberty Center graded roads

LIBERTY CENTER - George J. Johnson, mayor of Liberty Center for 13 years who worked as a heavy equipment operator on construction projects for five decades, died Wednesday in the Northcrest Nursing Center, Napoleon. He was 82.

He died of cancer diagnosed in September and became a patient in the nursing home six days before his death, his daughter, Diane Whitmire, said.

Early in 1995, Mr. Johnson stepped down after 13 years in the mayor's office of this Henry County village. He began serving in 1962 and was mayor for periods of six and seven years, separated by about 20 years when he was not in office.

"He was very interested in local government and seeing the town was improved," his daughter said.

Her father took pride in a program to build sidewalks so people could walk throughout the village, she recalled.

Mayor Max Fetterman, who suceeded Mr. Johnson and who was a village councilman about eight years while he was mayor, credited Mr. Johnson with doing a lot for the village parks and helping acquire donated land for Steward Park. Mr. Johnson was involved in planning for a new town hall, which was built after he left office.

"He just enjoyed people. He enjoyed talking to them," Mayor Fetterman said.

Mr. Johnson resigned after the death of his wife of 54 years, Virginia.

Mr. Johnson was on the village council for several terms before he became mayor. When he was seeking to return in 1983 after time away from office, the election ended in a tie vote, and Mr. Johnson lost the coin flip to Jerry Spiess.

Mr. Johnson was a member of the Liberty Center volunteer fire department for nearly 50 years.

In recent years, he was on the board of the Henry County Senior Center.

He retired in 1983 from his job as an operating engineer after working for several construction firms over the years.

After attending high school, Mr. Johnson began working for the former Fred Creager Construction Co., where he ran a road grader, Mrs. Whitmire said.

Mr. Johnson later worked for Fred Gerken Construction Co., Napoleon, and Miller Brothers Construction, Archbold.

Mr. Johnson loved his job grading roads and sometimes traveled to highway projects around the state, his daughter said. He worked on the widening of U.S. 24 north of Waterville and in the Napoleon area.

Her father began working in the days of two-lane highways and had seen the projects grow to divided, four-lane interstates, Mrs. Whitmire noted. After retirement, the International Union of Operating Engineers recognized Mr. Johnson for 50 years in the union.

He attended Bowling Green schools and married Virginia M. Teeters on Sept. 1, 1940, and thecouple made their home there. Mrs. Johnson died in 1994.

He served in the Army during World War II, including duty in the Pacific.

Mr. Johnson was a member of the Liberty Center United Methodist Church, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Masonic Lodge 518, and AmVets.

Surviving are his daughters, Debra Glanz and Diane Whitmire; son, Doug; sisters, Gladys Cook and Joyce Williams; brother, Paul, eight grandchildren, and two great-granddaughters.

Services will be at 11 a.m. tomorow in the Wright Funeral Home, Liberty Center, where the body will be after 2 p.m. today.

The family requests tributes to Northcrest Nursing Center, Liberty Center United Methodist Church, Liberty Center fire department, the American Cancer Society, or a charity of the donor's choice.