Obituary of Richard Wade Johnson

Richard Wade Johnson was born July 29, 1942 to Wills and Pauline Johnson at the family home located at 502 North 3rd Street. Which at the time was considered the wrong side of the tracks. Richard passed away January 14, 2021 at the age of 79. He attended Sapulpa Public High School, graduating in 1960 while working part time at the local glass factory during his senior year. After graduating he moved to California where he worked for several years as a forklift operator at the Ohio Rubber Co. in Long Beach, CA. He entered the Army in 1963, taking his basic training in Fort Ord, CA. Following basic training he was assigned to Fort Gordon for US Army Military Police Training. After completion of M.P. School he was assigned to the 527th M.P. Co. serving in Berlin, Germany, where some of his duties included working at “Check Point Charlie.” In 1966 he was assigned to the 148th M.P. Platoon in Vietnam serving as security at US ARV H.Q. in Long Binh, Vietnam. He was at the US Embassy during the Tet Offensive, co-cited in one book called the “Battle of Saignon.” During this time, he was awarded the Bronze Metal. It was during this time in Vietnam that he was exposed to Agent Orange which caused him serious health problems later in life. Following his discharge from the Army he returned to Sapulpa where he met and married his one true love of his life, the former Jo Ann Sheets. A union which provided one son, Daniel Wade Johnson. While employed at the Police Department he continued his education at NEO and graduated with honors and a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. After retiring from the police department, he went to work for the University of Oklahoma as the Security Supervisor. He was preceded in death by his parents Willis and Pauline Johnson; Stepfather Bill Wolf; 4 brothers, Carrol (Bub), Jerry, Willis (Dink) and Robert (Bob); stepbrother Ronnie Wolf; granddaughter Jennifer Toombs; and stepdaughter Roberta Vaughn. He is survived by his wife of 54 years Jo Ann Johnson; son Daniel Johnson; stepson Clayton Vaughn all of Sapulpa; granddaughter Jackie Vaughn (his little angel); great-granddaughter Ava Simmons (his world); great, great-granddaughter Ara Bella Vaughn; sister Judy Jones Wilson (his best friend); extended family Robert, Freddie, John Reeves, Elly Reeves and Norton Graff of Wang, Norway. He was a lifelong member of the D.A.V. and the American Legion.