Richard “Dick” Johns, 88, of Vidor, Texas passed away at his home on Friday, July 28. The son of Riley “Railroad” and Nellie (nee Coleman) Johns, he was born on July 21, 1935 in Hot Springs, Arkansas where he was raised.
Dick enlisted into the United States Coast Guard and was trained as an electrician. The Coast Guard held many adventures for a young man, such as when he served on the sailing ship USCGC Eagle, a masted sailing vessel used to train future Coast Guard officers. Dick became a commissioned Coast Guard officer and served as an engineer and marine inspector. Described by colleagues as a respected leader and mentor for those with whom he served; he maintained friendships with many of them spanning decades.
His last duty assignment as a marine safety officer was in Port Arthur, Texas, from where he retired as a Lieutenant Commander after a twenty-six-year career. He later retired from Nordrill where he was a safety and compliance engineer, and afterward, he continued as a marine inspector for Exxon for several years.
Along the way, he met and married Charlotte Weese, who was serving in the Women’s Army Corp. They enjoyed forty-five years of marriage before her passing. In 1972, the Johns family moved to Vidor. They raised five children and watched them become successful adults who began families of their own. After Charlotte’s passing, Dick married Barbara Kunst. Together, Dick and Barbara created a blended loving family while living their golden years to the fullest for over twenty years.
Throughout his life, Dick enjoyed photography; chronicling and generously sharing his many adventures; hunting with his sons, grandchildren, and friends; fishing with his father; farming and raising horses and other animals; showing champion Pomeranians; a passion for genealogy; celebrating his love of music with his family; and traveling the fifty states and abroad. Although a man of few words, he was a beloved and proud patriarch and was dedicated to participating in all the events he could throughout the lives of his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, whether they be important milestones, sporting events, musical concerts, or performances. He loved them all.
Preceding him in death are his first wife Charlotte and his second wife Barbara, his parents, his sisters Wilma Harris and Betty Walburg, and his brothers Robert Johns and James H. Johns.
He is survived by his children Kathy Pullig and her husband Sam of San Antonio, Texas; Richard Johns Jr. and his wife Gina of Vidor; Kim Dyess of San Antonio; Dr. Roger Johns and Gable Stephenson of San Antonio; and Ryan Johns and his wife Julie of Vidor; his step-children William “Bill” Kunst and Clare Fowler of Corpus Christi, Texas; Robert F. “Bob” Kunst of Beverly Hills, California; Cathy Kennedy and her husband Mike of Newport News, Virginia; and Michael Kunst and his wife Jill of Orange, Texas; sisters Maxine Phillips and Wanda Johns, both of Hot Springs, Arkansas; Loretta Jean Hammett of Columbus, Georgia; fourteen grandchildren; fifteen great-grandchildren; and numerous other extended family members.
Dick’s life will be celebrated on Wednesday, August 2 at Turning Point Church, 3600 North Main Street, Vidor with a visitation beginning at 1 pm prior to his service at 2 pm. Following his service, the bestowal of military honors will be at Restlawn Memorial Park, 2725 N. Main St., Vidor, followed by entombment alongside Charlotte.
Social Media