Ralph Wildon Johnson, age 93, of Shelbyville,
Tennessee, passed away peacefully with his family by his
side on June 20, 2026, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
Born on July 31, 1932, in Resaca, Georgia, Ralph lived a
remarkable life defined by service, hard work, adventure,
faith, and devotion to family.
Ralph proudly served his country in the United States
Navy during the Korean Conflict. In his early career, he
contributed to the guidance systems used in the NASA
Apollo missions that carried astronauts to the moon. He
later co-owned Johnson Construction and Paving
Company before retiring from Nissan Motor
Manufacturing.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Marilou Johnson; sons
Steven Johnson and wife Miranda Johnson; Edward
Johnson and wife Lisa Johnson; granddaughter Kenley
Johnson; and sister Ruby Faye Brindle of Signal
Mountain, Tennessee.
Ralph was preceded in death by his wife, Sue Helen
Massie Johnson; sister Lorain Webb of Dalton, Georgia;
brother Colbert Johnson of Eden, North Carolina; and
sister Rewanda Arthur of Cohutta, Georgia.
Visitation with the family was held Tuesday, June 23,
2026 at Doak Funeral Home and Cremation Services with
Masonic Rights that followed
Funeral services were held Wednesday, June 24, 2026 in
the Chapel of Doak Funeral Home and Cremation
Services with Carl Hall and William Crews officiating.
Burial followed in the Willow Mount Cemetery.
In Lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to
American Lung Association of Tennessee (One Vantage
Way, Suite C- 250 Nashville, TN 37228)
Doak Funeral Home and Cremation Services served the
family.