Homer Lloyd Johnson obituary – Austin American-Statesman
Homer Lloyd Johnson went home to be with the Lord on September 23, 2022. He was born on February 15, 1933 in Taylor, Texas. His grandparents immigrated to Texas from Sweden. They, along with several other families, established the New Sweden Community in Coupland.
Homer grew up on his family farm (still farmed today) where he picked cotton, pulled corn, cut Johnson grass and played games and sports with his friends late into the night. He was a member of the New Sweden Lutheran Church and had perfect attendance from 1938-1950. He attended the Carlson School from grades 1-5 where his Aunt Early was his teacher. Homer later attended school in Elgin where he graduated from Elgin High School in 1950 as Salutatorian. There he lettered 2 years in basketball, 3 years in baseball (with a .462 batting average) and played shortstop for the Wildcat State Championship Team. He finished high school with a senior trip in 1950 where he visited 22 states and Niagara Falls. The entire trip cost $40.00 and sparked his love of travel that lasted his entire life. He graduated from Nixon-Clay College where his father attended in the 1920s with a degree in accounting.
Homer worked in Houston for Phillips Petroleum Company until he was drafted into the US Army in 1952. He married Georgia Belle Frazier in 1953 and they had a daughter, Debra, while stationed at Ft. Bliss in El Paso, TX. He later worked for the Southern Pacific Railroad until 1959 when he began working for the Rainhart Co., a manufacturer of testing equipment for highway departments worldwide until his retirement in 2002. His marriage to Georgia Belle ended in 1978 and in 1979 he met Kay Rogers Shinkle at a blind date in Austin where they both drove up in their VW Bugs. They married in 1980 and the rest is history.
Homer was always the life of the party. He loved to laugh, dance and regularly hosted and attended meetings in his community.
Some of his favorite pastimes were gardening on his family farm which he did well into his 80’s, playing dominoes which he did for over 60 years, bowling, spending time on the Llano River and watching UT Longhorn football. He rarely let a day go by without Dr. Pepper or Blue Bell Ice Cream. He was also a member of Providence Presbyterian Church for many years where he served as a faithful deacon.
Homer’s unwavering devotion to God, family, friends and country was a wonderful example of how to live to all who knew him.
Homer was preceded in death by his parents, Hazel and Eric Johnson; and his sister Gloria.
He is survived by his loving wife of 42 years, Kay Johnson; daughter, Debra Akard and husband Mike; son, Patrick Shinkle and wife Tracey; granddaughter, Jessica Oney and husband Tom; grandson, Garrett Shinkle and wife Stephanie; two grandchildren, Addison Singh and husband Manny and Sydney Shinkle; six great-grandchildren, Grace Oney, Grant Oney, Michael Oney, Harper Shinkle, Walker Shinkle and Barron Singh.
The family wishes to express their deepest appreciation for the loving care Homer received in his final days from the nurses and staff at Buckner Villas and Hospice Austin.
A celebration of Homer’s life will be conducted at Providence Presbyterian Church in Pflugerville, Tuesday, October 4th at 6 p.m. 11 a.m. with Rev. Robert Canode presiding. A Repast will follow the service in the fellowship hall in honor of Homer. Burial will follow at New Sweden Cemetery at 2 p.m. Arrangements and care entrusted to
Posted online on September 30, 2022
Published in the Austin American Statesman
Service information
A tribute to life
Providence Presbyterian Church of Pflugerville,
October 4, 2022 on 11:00 AM
Funeral
New Sweden’s cemetery
October 4, 2022 on 14:00