William “Gary” Johnson, 84, of Portsmouth, OH, passed away Monday, August 3, 2026, at SOMC Hospice Center. He was born July 31, 1942, in Wheelersburg, OH to the late William R. and Mary E. (Creech) Johnson and is survived by his wife of 53 years, Patricia (Hall) Johnson, whom he married June 21, 1973.
Gary was a 1960 graduate of Wheelersburg High School and proud veteran of the United States Air Force. He was a retired accountant from Sunoco Chemical in Haverhill, OH. Gary was a huge Buckeye fan and served as an usher for seven years at the OSU Football Stadium, but the passion of his life was being with his family and spent every moment he could with them.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by six siblings: Gene Johnson, Danny Johnson, Keith Johnson, Joyce Ruggles, Shirley Jenkins and Sue Litz.
Along with his wife, those left to celebrate his life are his four children: Tim Newton, Lesa (Randy) Thornton, Lori Purkey and Rebecca Weaver; nine grandchildren: Josh (Lindy) Campbell, Cam Newton, Alex (Kelly) Thornton, Austin (Olivia) Thornton, Kristy (Derrick) Layton, Haley Newton, Lindsay Newton, Natalie (Conner) Douglas and Adam Weaver; nine great grandchildren and many more friends and family that will miss him dearly.
A funeral service will be 1:00pm, Thursday, August 6, 2026, at Harrison-Pyles Funeral Home, 11623 Gallia Pike, Wheelersburg, OH with Pastor Chris Oiler officiating. Burial will follow in Memorial Burial Park, Wheelersburg, OH. Visitation will be 11:00am until the time of the service at the funeral home.
