Donald Clyde Johnson of McKinney, Texas, passed away on September 13, 2024. He was 75 years old.
He was born in Dallas, Texas, on December 7, 1948, to William Clyde Johnson and Rosalie Nerine Johnson. Don's early years were marked by a profound curiosity and a love for learning. He graduated from Sunset High School before pursuing higher education at the University of Texas at Austin.
Don joined the U.S. Army in 1970 after graduating from UT. He attended the Army Language School in Monterey, California, where he learned to speak Turkish. He was then stationed in Turkey for a year, followed by a transfer to Pirmasens, Germany, where he met his future wife, Sharon Dietz, who was teaching in the U.S. military schools in the area. Don and Sharon were married on August 2, 1974, in Stamford, Nebraska. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2024. After getting married, Don and Sharon lived in Germany for the next two years, where Don was member of the PAL detachment of the U.S. Army. They took advantage of their time living in Germany to travel extensively. Upon his discharge from the U.S. Army in 1976, Don returned to Austin where he earned his doctor of jurisprudence in 1979.
Professionally, Don made significant contributions through his work in various legal roles. He began his career as an associate at Shank Irwin law firm in Dallas in 1979, focusing on oil and gas and real estate. In the mid-1980s, Don and two other attorneys were the founding partners of Williamson, Johnson & Gruber law firm. In 1990, Don left private practice and joined EDS as in-house counsel, focusing on financial services legal matters. After EDS, Don joined U.S. Bank in Minneapolis, Minnesota, later joining Bank of America in 2003 in Calabasas, California. Don eventually relocated back to the Dallas area in 2006, continuing his career with Bank of America until his retirement in 2015.
After retirement, Don was able to fully indulge his love of travel, visiting many countries around the world. His favorite locations included Egypt, Kenya, Turkey, and Italy. His deep appreciation for history, particularly ancient Egypt, reflected his lifelong pursuit of knowledge and understanding. Don was a multifaceted individual with a wide range of interests. He was an avid reader and showed his sharp sense of humor in authoring corporate newsletters while working at EDS. Don also enjoyed hunting and recreational shooting, passions that complemented his love for folk music and guitar playing. He was a member of the Boy Scouts of America, achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. As an adult, Don served in leadership roles in local Boy Scout troops and the Order of the Arrow, embodying the spirit of leadership and community service.
Don is survived by his wife, Sharon Johnson of McKinney, Texas; son, Jeffrey Johnson and wife Polly of Houston, Texas; son, Gregory Johnson and Angela of Ruidoso, New Mexico; granddaughter, Elizabeth Johnson of Houston, Texas; grandson, Bradford Johnson of Houston, Texas; and sister, Judy Thornton of Dallas, Texas, as well as a host of other family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, William Johnson and Rosalie Johnson.