Edgar "E.A." Johnson, Jr.

Benson:  Mr. Edgar Allen "E.A." Johnson, Jr., age 94, of Benson went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, November 27, 2016 at Betsy Johnson Hospital in Dunn, where he received excellent care.   Funeral Services will be 2:00PM Wednesday at Rose & Graham Funeral Chapel in Benson.  Officiating will be Rev. Al Hocutt.  Burial will follow in Benson City Cemetery.             E. A. was born on May 28, 1922 in Oxford, NC to the late Edgar Allen Johnson, Sr., and Bertie Barbour Johnson.  He was also preceded in death by his first wife,  Ruby Dixon Johnson, and his sister, Julia Johnson Lanz.             In 1927, Edgar, Sr. moved his family back to Benson and opened his business, E. A. Johnson Jeweler on Main Street.  E. A. started working on clocks and watches at the store when he was twelve years old.             E. A. enjoyed being a Boy Scout, and in 1939, he became Benson's first Eagle Scout.  From 1942 to 1945, he served in the United States Army Air Corps and assisted in the training of the famed Tuskegee Airmen.  After he was discharged, he joined his father's business at the jewelry store.  Remembering his love of scouting, he served as Scout Master of Troop 19 for 35 years.  E. A. enjoyed his many years at the jewelry store, but due to declining health, he closed the store and went out of business on December 31, 2014.  He enjoyed fishing and was a member of Benson United Methodist Church.  He was well known for his honesty, gentleness, generosity, and service to others.             Surviving are his loving wife of 30 years, Julia Dixon Johnson; a devoted daughter, Wendy Gayle Thornton of Raleigh; two nieces, Jean Lanz Catts of Parkland, Florida and Beverly House Traywick of Southern Pines; and very special friends, Kenneth and Pat Parker of Benson.             The family will receive friends at Rose & Graham Funeral Home in Benson from 1:00PM to 1:45PM Wednesday prior to the service.             In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Benson United Methodist Church Building Fund, P. O. Box 72, Benson, NC  27504; Johnston County EMS, Benson Rescue, P. O. Box 530, Smithfield, NC  27577; or to Benson Fire Department, 313 South Elm Street, Benson, NC  27504.