Obituary
Funeral for Archie H. Johnson, 80, of 8527 Eden Valley Lane, former co-owner of Johnson-Melton Ford Service Co., will be at 1 p.m. Monday at Pleasant Grove Church of Christ, with burial in Restland Memorial Park.
Mr. Johnson died Friday in a Dallas hospital after a short illness. He had been a Dallas resident for 75 years and was born in Winona. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War I.
Survivors all of Dallas include his wife, Mrs. Irene Johnson; and daughters, Mrs. Glynn W. Simmons and Mrs. A. T. Pasche.
Eulogy
This is the Eulogy, probably written by his preacher, read at Archie's funeral. It's a beautiful eulogy, I think, full of comparisons to King David and Paul and a story of love for his family and his God.
Intro
"For David after he had served his own generation, by the will of God, fell asleep"(Acts 13:36)
This afternoon we can also say, "Brother Archie Johnson after he had served his own generation, by the will of God, fell asleep."
This tribute was paid to the great king of Israel after he had been dead about one thousand years. Today, we pay our tribute to brother Johnson only hours after his passing.
The tribute to David was given to his memory by the apostle Paul in an address in the synagogue at Antioch on his first missionary journey. Today in the quietude of this auditorium, we, his family, brethren and friends pay our respects in loving memory.
In the tribute to David, delivered by Paul, God himself is quoted as having said: "I have found David the son of Jesse a man after my heart" (Acts 13:22). Surely our Heavenly Father looking down from the courts of Heaven approvingly has said the same thing about brother Johnson.
Interlude 1
We see in our text a true conception of what life is for.
David was the ruler of a great nation and the commander-in-chief of a great army; he was the author of many beautiful poems, the most widely read and most generally quoted of any that have ever been written.
But the end of it all was service to mankind and honor to God.
In his early life David seems to have had no thought of royal attainment. Neither did brother Johnson. David was from a pastorial people and started out to be a good shephard. His method was to do little things in a big way. I think this was typical of brother Johnson.
This quality was so conspicious in the life of David that the Lord sent Samuel to anoint him to suceed Saul as king. Seven were present for the honor, but rejected. David, the youngest, was the chosen one. Then Jesse was reminded by Samuel that "Man looketh on the outward appearance but God looketh on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7).
Always it is true that great things can be done in such an unworthy way that both the doer and the deed become little, while small things can be done in such a worthy way that both the deed and the doer become great in the sight of God and of men.
I have known brother and sister Johnson about 25 years, and have loved them from the beginning of our acqaintance. Back when the Pleasant Grove Church of Christ was small in numbers and struggling to provide an auditorium for worship, brother and sister Johnson gave liberally to help provide the necessary money. He not only helped in that area, but he also found time to speak words of encouragement to us as we worked most every week night to complete our task. They also purchased bonds and helped again when it was necessary to erect the present auditorium. Brother Johnson was not a member of the Lord's body at that time, but he was a dear friend to everyone at Pleasant Grove.
This reminds us that David always did more for his people than he wanted them to do for him. This was brother Johnson's philosophy of life also. He did not do good merely for the plaudits of mankind, but rather out of a good and honost heart - filled with love for his fellow men. He wanted nothing in return for his good deeds except the love and respect of all mankind.
Our Lord gave us an insight into his own greatness when he said: "The Son of Man came not to be ministered unto but to minister and to give his life a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45). The advanced standard for us as followers of the Lord is, "Whosoever would be first among you shall be your servant" (Matt. 20:27-28). Brother Johnson achieved true greatness in the Lord's sight during his 80 years here on the earth by being the servant of all. He was content to do no less.
Interlude 2
In our text we see also that the limits of opportunity were recognized. David knew that it was his generation that he was to serve. The destiny of those living before him had already been fixed. To the unborn he had no access. To help those who lived when he lived afforded David his only chance of carrying out the basic mission and purpose of life. These observations were also true in the life of brother Johnson!
He and sister Johnson lived together in the beautiful bond of wedlock for 54 years. In talking with her at the funeral home, she assured me that they had been happy years of togetherness, notwithstanding they had known sorrow and want during that period of time. They have proven to all of us that God's plan for mankind will work. And if we are to know true happiness in the realm of the physical, it must be sought in harmony with God's laws and direction.
I have never known a couple more involved in the sorrows and problems of other people than brother and sister Johnson. Every memorial service I have attended during my years at Pleasant Grove, I have found them present to weep with those who weep. They have visited the sick, provided food for the hungry, strength for the discouraged, and have lifted burdens that seemed destined to crush some precious soul. They were always together, and only physical death could seperate them.
Brother Johnson served his country in World War One by spending many months in France, away from home and loved ones. He appreciated physical and spiritual freedom. It is a great tribute to his loving memory that so many of his comrades are present for this memorial service.
We know that from the laws enacted, the truths taught, and the lives lived in the time of David, there followed the golden age of Jewish history.
Likewise, this world will always be a better place because brother Johnson passed this way, and influenced so many lives for good.
Interlude 3
David not only served his generation, but that service was according to the will of God. That is so important!
"An apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God" is the way Paul introduced himself in letters to the Corinthians, Ephesians, Colossians and to Timothy.
Out of a desire to do the Lord's will ... Paul on one occasion ask the question .. "What must I do Lord?" And when he received the answer, and became a follower of the Lord, he spent the rest of his life trying to make up for the years he had wasted in the far country.
Brother Johnson ask this same question here at Pleasant Grove one Lord's day morning at the conclusion of a worship service. That was about eleven years ago, and after he became a Christian he also worked in such a diligent manner to make amends for the years he felt he had wasted in part, in the Lord's work. I had the joy of baptizing him into Christ, and I was made glad by his faithfulness during that period of time. He and sister Johnson always attended worship if possible.
Today men are called to be farmers, physicians, merchants, mechanics, clerks and teachers. Women are called to be homemakers, nurses, wives, mothers, teachers and etc.
Providence often puts us into the right place at the right time. This was true in the life of brother Johnson. For more than 30 years he was the senior partner of Johnson-Nelton Ford Service, and as a mechanic he was in position to serve and influence for good, many people. I have heard many customers say that it was a delightful experience to be in their place of business. Thus, these people almost felt it was worth having trouble over, if they could be in a shop where they were treated so kindly and honestly.
Brother Johnson always taught that it is not nearly so important to make a living as it is to make a life. Therefore he felt it was wrong for anyone to devote time and talent to trivial things. He felt that the business of successful and abundant living required the best man had to offer.
No wonder we read: "As many as are led by the Spirit of God these are sons of God" (Romans 8:14).
Interlude 4
Let us notice also something about the significant closing of an approved life. The Bible says that "David fell asleep."
Children after a day of play often drop off asleep in the arms of father or mother.
Solomon had observed in adults that the sleep of a laboring man is sweet (Eccl. 5:12).
He had no doubt seen men at work on the temple and in gardens around Jerusalem. Then he had seen them come in for rest at the close of the day. And how sweet it was!
The writer of the Hebrew letter speaks of abiding rest for God's children when he tells us "That there remaineth therefore a rest for the people of God" (Hebrews 4:9).
How thankful we should be that God has spared nothing in trying to cause us to understand the purpose and blessings of physical death when it comes to one of His children.
It is spoken of in many ways in the Bible, but one of the most beautiful descriptions of death is that it is sleep. Luke, the beloved physician says of the martyrdom of Stephen that "He fell asleep" (Acts 7:60).
Jesus often used the word sleep to teach us concerning death. Of the daughter of Jarius He said: "The damsel is not dead but sleepeth" (Mark 5:39).
Of the brother of Martha and Mary He said: "Our friend Lazarus is fallen asleep, but I go that I might awake him out of sleep" (John 11:11).
Paul looked forward to the second coming of Christ and said: "Even so them that are fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring with him" (1 Thess. 4:14).
God has touched our beloved brother Johnson and he fell asleep.
Conclusion
The greatest memorial one can leave is that of a Godly and faithful life. It towers above the beautiful marble coated buildings of our land, or the extravagance of the cave of Macpelah which was the burial place of Sarah.
So today we do not weep as those who have no hope. Brother Johnson was a Christian and his last days were filled with a deepening faith which overshadowed the physical pain that worked day and night to dissipate his body. Prayer seem to be even more meaningful to him during the last days of his life, and he always wanted my visit to be concluded by prayer.
He had no fear of death because he saw it as a step into a better life. And he felt that dying physically would make possible the greatest triumph of his life. It was for this day and this hour that he had lived.
We thank God for his rich and beautiful life, and also for his hope of immortality.
May God bless, comfort and sustain all of us who feel so lonely in his himegoing.