Hal Warren Johnson's Obituary
Hal Warren Johnson, Sr., 90, of Dallas, Texas, passed away July 19, 2020, in Dallas. He was born December 30, 1929, to parents, Clarence Johnson and Flora Isabelle Johnson, in Los Angeles, California, at the Hospital of the Angels.
He married Sharon Bayles Johnson on November 20, 1975, in Dallas, Texas.
Mr. Johnson earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin in January 1957 and was a fabulous University of Texas fan. He was a member of Beta Theta Pi at the University of Texas at Austin.
He served in the Navy from May 1951 to November 1954 as a Chief Petty Officer First Class. He received the National Defense Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Korean Service Medal and China Service Medal.
As a young boy, he traveled with his Mom and Dad to county fairs throughout Indiana demonstrating the Overhead Door with his Mom raising the door using a Model T Ford to hold the door. He began his career with Overhead Door in 1956 in Hartford City, Indiana serving as an Assistant General Manager. In 1960, he was put in charge of the logistics to move the corporate offices from Hartford City to Dallas. He was an Executive Vice President at Overhead Door Company from 1956 to 1968 when he retired. He continued to serve on the Board of Directors from 1959 to 1990.
He loved the outdoors and hunting. He was also a worldly gentleman who once took a 30-day safari in 1950 with Peter Potter who was the stepson of Fred Astaire. He loved traveling to Acapulco and Cabo, Mexico. He was also a master of investing in the stock market; one broker called him the “man with the golden thumb.”
He is survived by his spouse, Sharon Bayles Johnson; daughters, Karen Williamson and her child, Alan, of Austin, Texas, and Kimberly Ellen Sanford of Dallas, Texas; son, Hal Warren Johnson, Jr., his wife, Allison, and their children, Reese and Erik; nephew, Clarence Gilbert Johnson, III; and a host of other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence Gilbert Johnson, Sr. and Flora Johnson; and brother, Clarence Gilbert Johnson, Jr.
What’s your fondest memory of Hal?
What’s a lesson you learned from Hal?
Share a story where Hal's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Hal you’ll never forget.
How did Hal make you smile?