Obituary of Eric Kenneth Johnson

Dr. Eric Kenneth Johnson, 87, of Morgantown, Professor Emeritus of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering from West Virginia University, passed away Saturday, January 20, 2018. 

He was born November 28, 1930 in Chicago, IL, the only son of the late Eric Gustav and Edith (Brikell) Johnson. 

Dr. Johnson was an active member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church and worked at West Virginia University as a Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from 1980-2015.  He played the clarinet and baritone saxophone and had the privilege of playing in the 1951 Rose Bowl with the University of Illinois marching band.  He also played with the OLLI New Horizons Band. 

Dr. Johnson had a lifelong passion for the sport of soccer, playing in the Buckskin league until he was 72.  He was happy to have started the little league soccer program in Worthington, OH in the late 60’s and 70’s.  He also coached MYSAA soccer after moving to Morgantown in 1980.

He is survived by his children, Karin Johnson Sorge of Morgantown, Eric Kenneth Johnson, Jr. and his wife Kathleen of Livingston, NJ, and Pastor Carl Allen Johnson and his wife Nancy of Kittanning, PA; grandchildren, Joshua Allen Sorge, Linnea Michelle Sorge, Michael Christian Sorge and his wife Ricki Renee, Kirsten Marie Hill and her husband Nicholas, Amy Repak and her husband Steven, Kyle Eric Johnson, and Rebecca Anne Johnson; and great grandchildren, Cody Allen Kaiser, Clair DeLune Sorge, Atticus Joshua Sorge, Anders Michael Sorge, and Grace Melody Sorge.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his wife, Phyllis Jane (Allen) Johnson

Friends and family will be received at Hastings Funeral Home, 153 Spruce St., Morgantown, on Tuesday, January 23^rd from 2-4 and 7-9 PM.  Visitation will continue at the St. Paul Lutheran Church, 309 Baldwin St, Morgantown on Wednesday, January 24^th from 9:30 AM until the time of the funeral service at 10:30 AM with Rev. Gerald Kliner, STS officiating.  Interment will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery in Morgantown. 

Memorial donations may be made to the St Paul Lutheran Church, 309 Baldwin St. Morgantown, WV or The Shack, PO Box 600, Morgantown, WV 26546.

Online condolences may be made at www.hastingsfuneralhome.com