Victor Allen Johnson

VICTOR  A. JOHNSON was born on December 26, 1957 in Woodstock, Illinois to Victor Johnson and Violet (Carlson) Johnson.  After  graduation from high school, Victor was bitten by the travel bug and set out on his own to tour the United States.

His venture took him first from Illinois to Florida where he spent some time basking in the sun.  He then headed across country toward the west coast, working at odd jobs in order to purchase food, sleeping by the side of the road, in barns, in churches and occasional someone would invite him to spend a couple nights in their home.  He walked a great deal of the way but also hitchhiked, getting rides from individuals in cars and also long haul truckers.  Oh the stories he would tell. 

Arriving in Sedona, Arizona, he was captivated by the beauty he saw and spent several months there.  Then the travel bug once again bit him and he decided he needed to see Alaska.  So, he went on to the coast,  made a right and headed toward the Canadian Border. 

Arriving at the Border, he was turned back because he had no apparent  source of  income and it was felt by the Canadian Border Guards that he might get into Canada and become their responsibility despite the fact that he wanted to get to Alaska and it was necessary for him to go through Canada in order to  get there.  Not one to give up, he returned to Bellingham to look for work, hoping to build up a bank account that would satisfy the Canadian government. 

One fateful night, friends talked him into going to Karaoke with them and while there, he met a blonde who soon became the love of his life.  Sissy Davis was also smitten with him and took him home for a hot meal.  He never left and all thoughts of Alaska went out of his mind. After 14 years together, and as he never left, they felt they were still on their first date. 

Because of a group called The Friendship Group at the Hope in Christ Church, Victor became involved with the activities in the church and was part of a group of men who met for coffee on Wednesday mornings and then went to clean the church, going out to lunch when they were done.  He always looked forward to meeting with the men and being included in their projects.  He also joined a Bible study group that met on Thursday nights. 

Through the church he became good friends with Don Recker and Elaine Snapper, both of whom he looked up to and greatly admired. 

On Friday the 13th, his big heart gave out and he was rushed to the hospital where he had immediate open heart surgery.  On Saturday the 14th a blood clot hit his heart and in that moment, he truly became a child of God. 

Everyone has been amazed at how many lives he touched and influenced.

A memorial service will be held for Victor Johnson at Hope in Christ Church, 710 East Sunset Drive, Bellingham, WA 98225. The service will begin at 2:00pm on Tuesday, November 7, 2017 with a reception following.