RONALD PRICE JOHNSON
1930-2017
Ronald Price Johnson (1930-2017) passed away peacefully at home in Houston, TX on Thursday August 3, 2017. He is the son of Earl Melvin and Carrie Elodie (Morrison) Johnson. Ron was born in Sedalia, MO. on May 14, 1930. “RP” lived life to the fullest.
Ron graduated from Smith-Cotton High School in Sedalia and enlisted in the United States Navy in September 1948. He spent time at the Naval Air Station in Atlantic City and was selected to attend the Naval School of Photography in Pensacola, FL. He served on the USS Leyte and USS Roosevelt primarily in the Mediterranean.
After the Navy, he enrolled at Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg, MO. and received a BA in Business Administration. He was president of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity and editor of the university newspaper. Upon graduation he moved to Houston, and joined the Shell Oil Company at its Deer Park refinery. There he met a crew of lifelong friends and true characters.
It was in Houston where he met the love of his life, Georgia Marie Seyl. They married in 1958 and had two children; Steven Bryan in 1959 and Pamela Dian in 1960. They lived in Sharpstown until 1973 when Shell assigned Ron to New Orleans as Public and Governmental Affairs for the Southern Region E&P. He was transferred to Chicago in 1974, and then returned to the corporate offices in Houston where he held several corporate managerial positions in the Public Affairs organization. He was Senior Editor of Shell publications and temporarily worked in Washington, DC as part of Shell’s Lobbying Team. For two years he served as Chairman of the University of Texas College of Communication Advisory Council. He retired from Shell in 1987 after a notable and significant career in Shell’s Public and Governmental Affairs organization.
Ron was dearly loved by his grandchildren who gave him the name “Gibby.” He had many other nicknames including Rocket, Running Pierre, Rodney, Charming, RP and others less flattering. Ron was a true craftsman, woodworker, electrician, plumber and was “Mr. Fix-it” for family and friends. He was a “colorful” story-teller, like his father and sister, entertaining family and friends throughout the years. He was a loving husband, a generous father and grandfather and a devoted friend to many.
Ron and Georgia vacationed many summers at the family cabin at the Lake of the Ozarks. This annual reunion created many happy memories with the Johnson and Tindle families. For many years, they traveled, cruised and partied with longtime friends from Ron’s days with Shell. He was a founding member of a social service group known as the CSC. Ron and Georgia were members of Raveneaux Country Club for over 40 years. He loved playing golf with his son and grandkids as well as his dear friends at the club. He played a round of golf at the club the day before he died.
Perhaps the most unusual group he was associated with began with five couples who formed a bond that has lasted over 40 years. The group named “LaFamilia”, now over 50 strong, gathers every Thanksgiving without fail.
Ron was preceded in death by his sweet wife of 58 years Georgia Marie on February 4th, 2016, his sister and brother-in-law Carolee and Jack Tindle. He is survived by his son Steve and his wife Jennifer and their two children, Amanda Marie and Travis Kirtley. His daughter Pam tragically died in 2008 from breast cancer. He is also survived by Pam’s two children, Brian Price Dunn and Laura Lee Dunn and their father Charles Earl Dunn. Survivors in the Tindle family are Jeff and spouse Tammie, Jill and spouse Roger Fergason, Jana and spouse Bill Love.
Also surviving are Georgia’s brother Jack William Seyl and wife Coleen Hale. They have four children; Scott, Adele and spouse James Leighton, Todd and spouse Gina; Rod and spouse Deidre. Ron is also survived by fifteen nephews and nieces. Family and friends are invited to celebrate Ron’s life at 2:00 pm, Saturday August 19th at Brookside Funeral Home – Champions, 3410 FM 1960 Rd. West in Houston. A reception will follow. Honorary pallbearers are Dr. Nick Checkles, Walter Hale, Fred Jennings, Tony Maniscalco, Bill Nicholson, Tom Ryan Sr., Tom Stewart and Jerry Terry. In lieu of flowers, Ron would be honored by donations to Northwest Assistance Ministries or a charity of your choice.