In Memory

Claude Johnson - Class Of 1958

Claude Johnson

Claude Richard Johnson of Crawfordsville passed away peacefully Saturday night at Community Hospital South, having turned 78 on Monday.

Claude devoted most of his life to serving his community, state, nation and the world in service and philanthropic activities.  Through the Crawfordsville Rotary Club, he organized and supervised the rehabilitation of fire trucks that were donated to nineteen small Mexican communities without fire protection.  In 2016, Claude was the sole recipient of “The Richard Kendall Award for Service to Humanity” from Rotary International.   Claude served as Chairman of the Indiana Fine Arts Commission during the Evan Bayh administration.   He was recognized with multiple awards of the “Sagamore of the Wabash” from several Indiana Governors.  When the Boys & Girls Club of Montgomery County considered a major expansion, Claude chaired the multi-million dollar campaign that produced the current facility utilized by thousands of Montgomery County children.  He helped organize and administer the Montgomery County Leadership Academy that has developed and enhanced the leadership skills of hundreds of responsible leaders in Montgomery County. He also devoted countless hours serving as both a police and fire commissioner in Crawfordsville.  In retirement, Claude continued his service as the Montgomery County Veteran Service officer helping resolve countless veteran needs.

Claude spent his professional career in the insurance industry.   He was proud of the service that he and his son, Chris, provided to Crawfordsville and beyond with their agency, the Johnson & Williamson Insurance Agency.  He served his country in both the U.S. Army and the U.S. Navy.  He was an active member of St. John’s Episcopal Church.

Born October 8, 1940 in Peru, Indiana, he was the son of Howard Richard Johnson and Geneva May (Harris) Johnson.  He graduated from Delphi High School and married Linda Lee Beaumont on December 10, 1960 in Chicago.  She passed away on February 24, 2015.  Their only son, Christopher David Johnson, passed away on January 1, 2018.

Surviving family members include: grandson, David (Lexi) Johnson of Franklin; two granddaughters, Teresa (Brad Farmer) Johnson of Pittsboro and Sophia Johnson of Crawfordsville; daughter-in-law, Raquel Johnson of Crawfordsville and five great-grandchildren.

Memorial services will be held Friday, October 26th, 2018, at St. John’s Episcopal Church, with the Rev. Jan Oller officiating.  Please join his family from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. on the 26th at St. John’s for visitation.  Claude’s service will begin at 6:00 p.m. with a reception to follow in Whitlock Hall of the church.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Animal Welfare League of Montgomery County, 1104 Big Four Arch Road, Crawfordsville, IN 47933, the Crawfordsville Rotary Club Fire Truck Initiative, P.O. Box 841, Crawfordsville, IN 47933, or St. John’s Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 445, Crawfordsville, IN 47933.