Austin Johnson Obituary

Austin Bryant "Raggie" Johnson CHARLESTON - Entered into eternal rest on the morning of November 27, 2013, Lt. Colonel Austin Bryant Johnson, USAF (Retired), husband of Imogene Umphlet Johnson of Charleston, SC. The relatives and friends of Raggie and Imogene Johnson are invited to attend his Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM, Tuesday, December 3, 2013, at Church of the Nativity, 1061 Folly Rd. The Rite of Committal will be private. The family will receive friends from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM, Monday, December 2, 2013, at the James A. McAlister Funeral Home, 1620 Savannah Highway, Charleston. Raggie was born on July 26, 1929 in Charleston, SC, the fourth child of Claude M. Johnson and Mary Kennedy Johnson. Raggie was a class of 1949 graduate of Bishop England High School and class of 1953 graduate of The Citadel. He played football for both schools, boxed Golden Gloves, and was captain of the boxing team during his senior year at The Citadel. Raggie was commissioned into the United States Air Force in 1954 and served on active duty until retiring as a Lt. Colonel in 1974. He served in the defense of the Republic of Vietnam from 1967-1968 and received the Bronze Star for service rendered in that war. He also served as an Air Force ROTC instructor at The Citadel from 1968 until 1972. Upon leaving the Air Force, Raggie worked as the purchasing agent for the Renken Boat Company of James Island, SC until retirement in 1994. He was a former member of the Association of Citadel Alumni, the Charleston Citadel Club, the Brigadier Club, American Legion Post #147, and Nativity Roman Catholic Church of James Island. He was an avid fisherman and supporter of his beloved Citadel Bulldogs. Most of all, Raggie loved being at home in his favorite city, Charleston, and taking care of people. He was full of joy and touched many lives all over the world. We will miss him dearly! He was predeceased by his mother and father, Claude and Mary Johnson, brothers Claude Jr. (Bubba) and Wm. Kenneth Johnson, and sister Betty J. Ferrara. Raggie is survived by his wife of 59 years, Imogene Umphlet Johnson, one daughter, Julie J. Armstrong (Jim), three sons; Preston Bryant Johnson, Flagstaff, AZ, Austin Blake Johnson, Columbia, SC, and William Brett Johnson (Susan), Charleston, SC, four granddaughters; Meghan Lee Johnson, Valli Blair Johnson, Kelsey Rebecca Johnson, and Imogene Elise Armstrong, seven grandsons; Jesse Austin Johnson (Michelle), Lucas Bryant Johnson (Kristina), Austin Blake Johnson II, James Bryant Armstrong, Matthew Brett Johnson, Phillips Cole Armstrong, and Preston Lee Johnson, as well as one great granddaughter Addisyn Nancy Johnson, and one great grandson Connor Atherton. Also surviving are his sisters Anne Marie J. Wingate, Natalie J. Knisley (Gene), Nancy J. Miller (Bob), Patricia J. Jones, and sister-in-laws Martha Cotton Johnson and Annette S. Umphlett, and brother-in-law Winwood Umphlett (Eleanor) and many loving nieces and nephews. Raggie's guestbook may be signed at JamesAMcAlister.com. Memorials may be made to the following charities: The Citadel Brigadier Foundation, 171 Moultrie St. Chas, SC 29409 and the Wounded Warrior Project, National Processing Center, PO Box 758540, Topeka, KS 66675-8540. Arrangements by JAMES A. McALISTER Funerals & Cremation. 766-1365. Visit our guestbook at www.legacy.com/obituaries/ charleston