Charles R. Johnson

CHARLES (CHARLIE) JOHNSON February 18, 1943 ˜ January 21, 2026 Charlie was born in Fitchburg, MA, to Edwin and Marion Johnson, he was the youngest of six children. He went to school in Lunenburg, MA, where his passion for sports grew. He excelled at basketball and baseball with his favorite position being third base and was inducted into his high school Hall of Fame. Charlie joined the Army after high school and was stationed at Fort Lewis; he was honorably discharged in the Spring of 1965. During this time, he met his wife of 60 years, Sharee (Alexander). They married that September and moved back to his hometown of Lunenburg, MA, where they had their daughter, Dawn. In 1968, they moved to Fresno, CA, where Charlie started his lengthy career with Goodyear Tire and Rubber. They stayed in Fresno for five years and during that time they had their son, James, before moving to Vancouver, WA. This is where they decided they wanted to stay and bought their first home and settled permanently. Charlie managed several stores in the Northwest for Goodyear and traveled frequently. He took great pride in the fact that he made his territory of stores profitable while under his management. He eventually left Goodyear as a corporate employee and purchased his own Goodyear franchise, which was in Portland, OR. When he eventually sold his business, he wanted to stay busy so he semi-retired working for Sears Automotive as manager at Vancouver Mall. One of his favorite pastimes was fishing. He loved to fish anywhere with his wife or good friends; one of his favorite places was Hells Canyon, OR. He was always supporting his grandsons in whatever they did from sports to music to drag racing. He loved his family and was always there for them. One thing that brought him so much joy was coaching youth basketball. He did that for many years through the YMCA and other organizations.... he loved passing on his knowledge of basketball to kids. He was loved by his family and friends and will be dearly missed. Charlie was preceded in death by his father (Edwin), mother (Marion), sister Barbara (Moffett), brothers, Norman, Donald, Robert and George. He is survived by his wife Sharee (Alexander), daughter Dawn Dietrich (Richard), son James, grandchildren, Charlie Dietrich (Taylor) and Tyler Dietrich. Great-grandchildren Gwendolyn and Matthew Dietrich Charlie will be laid to rest at Evergreen Memorial Gardens after a small family service. Remembrances in his name can be made to the Alzheimer’s Assn, Ray Hickey Hospice House or youth sports organization.

Charles R. Johnson

February 18, 1943 - January 21, 2026