Joseph Cooper Johnson

Mr. Joseph Cooper Johnson, 82, of Winston-Salem, died Sunday, February 15, 2009 at Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home. Mr. Johnson was born September 15, 1926 in McCreary County, Kentucky, a son of the late Joseph H. Johnson and the late Willie Lee DeLon Johnson. He grew up in Memphis, TN and served in the US Marine Corp. in the late 1940's and during the Korean War. He graduated from Ole Miss where he played many winning football games. Joe was recruited to play offensive end with the NY Giants during the 1948 and 1949 seasons. After noticing that playing football on the then-grass fields was destroying his knees, he retired from the Giants. He worked briefly in Memphis, then returned to the New York City area and soon married his much-loved wife Doris. They lived happily for almost 30 years in Westfield NJ, raising their family and in later years enjoying near-by grandchildren, Based in Manhattan, Joe worked in the textile industry, initially with Beaunit; he eventually retired as a Vice President with Burlington Industries. He and Doris then moved to Pinehurst, where he loved golf and gardening, and volunteered with Hospice. of Pinehurst. In 2001 Joe and Doris moved to Homestead Hills in Winston Salem, and enjoyed that community for several years. Mr. Johnson is survived by his wife of 47 years, Doris Cave Johnson, daughters, Diane Hydoski and husband Frank, and Leslie Sciandra and husband Dan, sister, Katie McNatt, grandchildren, Matthew Sciandra, Xavier Sciandra, Amelia Sciandra, and Joseph Hydoski. A memorial service will be conducted 1:00 PM Saturday, February 21, 2009 at Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek Chapel with Rev. Craig Walker officiating. The family will receive friends following the service. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice and Palliative Care, 101 Hospice Lane, Winston-Salem, NC 27103.

Memorials:
Hospice and Palliative Care, 101 Hospice Lane, Winston-Salem, NC 27103.

Cemetery:
Cremation

Service:
Service at 01:00pm on February 21, 2009 at Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek Chapel