Rodger Charles Johnson (1918 - 1973)

Born 30 Apr 1918 in Hanover, York County, Pennsylvania, United States

Died 9 Dec 1973 at age 55 in Fairfield, Adams County, Pennsylvania, United States

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Biography

In some records the given name is spelled Roger.

Date of birth from Source ^[1]. We found no record of Rodger's marriage to Edith, but based on his military records ^[1][2], that would have occurred sometime between Oct 1940 and Jan 1950.

[Research Note: It should be mentioned that there are records for several different Rodger (or Roger) Johnsons in the area of York and Adams Counties, PA, but there is only one Rodger for which the data is consistent with that in the obituary ^[3] and with marriage to Edith B. Warren. The grandparents identified in the two census records ^[4][5], William and Lucinda Rutters, had a daughter Gertrude (not profiled) who married Charles H. Johnson (not profiled) and appears to have been Rodger's mother. And Gertrude's sister Dorothy later became the third wife of Edith's brother Maurice Warren, so there were multiple interrelationships between the families.

The one data item that isn't consistent is Rodger's age, as shown in the U.S. 1940 Census ^[6]. He would have been about 21, not 31. But it seems unlikely that Edith would have shared a household with a Rodger Johnson other than the one that she later married.]

Death Records

● Interred at Oak Lawn Memorial Gardens, Gettysburg, Adams County, PA. ^[7]

● Text of obituary: ^[3]

"Roger Charles Johnson, 55 Main St., Fairfield, died suddenly at 11:30 Sunday evening when he was stricken at his home. The Adams County coroner, Dr. Robert S. Lefever, attributed death to a coronary artery occlusion.

"A native of Hanover, he was the son of the late Charles H. Johnson and Gertrude May Johnson. He was employed at the Kinney Shoe Co. in Fairfield, and was a member of the Gettysburg Moose Lodge. A veteran of World War II, he served as a sergeant in the United States Army's 66th Infantry Division from 1942 to 1946.

"Surviving are his wife, the former Edith Warren; a step-daughter, Mrs. John R. Cool, Fairfield R.1; a half brother and sister: Lawrence Johnson and Mrs. Fritz Lander, both of Jamestown, N.Y.; four step-grandchildren and nine step great grandchildren.

"Funeral services will be held Wednesday afternoon at 2 from the Wilson Funeral Home, Fairfield with the Rev. Lloyd H. Seiler officiating. Burial will be in Oaklawn Memorial Gardens. Friends may call at the funeral home in Fairfield Tuesday evening."

● "Pennsylvania, U.S., Veterans Burial Cards, 1777 - 2012," Adams County Deceased Veterans, January 23, 1989. (Roger C. Johnson). Birth date, 30 Apr 1918. Service dates, 29 Apr 1942 - 13 Mar 1946. Organizations, 66th Inf. Div. Co. C. Rank, Sgt. Death date, 9 Dec 1973. Cemetery, Oaklawn Memorial, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. (Accessed 19 Nov 2022.) ^[8]

Military Records

● "Pennsylvania, U.S., Veteran Compensation Application Files, WWII, 1950 - 1956" (Rodger C. Johnson). Address, RD-2, Fairfield, Adams County, Pa. Date and place of birth, Apr. 30, 1918, Hanover, York County, Pa. Name under which applicant served, Johnson, Rodger C. Dates of domestic service, 29 Apr 42 to 23 Apr 45. Dates of foreign service, 24 Apr 45 to 2 Mar 46. Date and place applicant entered service, 29 Apr 42, Harrisburgh, Pa. Service Number, 33014975. Date and place applicant was separated from active service, 13 Mar 46, Ft. Dix, N.J. Is applicant now serving in Armed Forces? No. Applicant's residence at time of entry into active service, 10 Hanover Apts., Hanover, York County, Pa. Registered under selective service by Draft Board 4, Hanover, York County, Pa. Did applicant receive from any state or any allies of the United States a bonus? No. Name and address of beneficiary, Edith B. Johnson, RD-2, Fairfield, Adams County, Pa. Signed and notarized, 21 Jan 1950. (Accessed 19 Nov 2022.) ^[2]

● Data base, "U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940 - 1947" (Rodger Charles Johnson). 16 Oct 1940, Local Board No. 4, 5 York Street, Hanover (York Co.), Pennsylvania, S/N 3358. Address, 447 High St., Hanover, York Co. Telephone, None. Age 22, born April 30, 1918, Hanover, Pa. Citizen of U.S. Name of person who will always know your address, Mrs. Edith Smith, 447 High St., Hanover, York County, Pa. Employer, None. Race, white. Height, 5-4. Weight, 135. Eyes, blue. Hair, blonde. Complexion, light. Other obvious physical characteristics that will aid in identification, None. Accessed 19 Nov 2022.) ^[1]

Census Data

● U.S. 1950 Census (Roger C. Johnson). Residence, Liberty Township, Adams County, PA, Age 32, married, born PA. Occupation, Cutter (Shoe Factory). Home is a farm of three or more acres. Head of household with wife Edith B. Johnson (46). (Enumerated 04 May 1950. Accessed 03 May 2023.) ^[9]

● U.S. 1940 Census (Rodger C. Johnson). Residence, Hanover, Ward 3, York County, PA, 447 High Street. Age 31, single, born PA. Completed 8th grade. Occupation, Laborer ([illegible]). Lodger in household of Edith B. Smith (36). Residence 01 Apr 1935, Rural Adams County, PA. (Enumerated 11 Apr 1940. Accessed 09 Apr 2014.) ^[6]

● U.S. 1930 Census (Rodger C. Johnson). Residence, Mount Pleasant Township, Adams County, PA. Age 11, single, born PA, father born PA, mother born PA. Able to read and write, Yes. Occupation, None. In household of grandparents William C. (61) and Lucinda Rutters (57). (Enumerated 24 Apr 1930. Accessed 09 Apr 2014.) ^[4]

● U.S. 1920 Census (Rodger Johnson). Residence, Penn Township, York County, PA. Age 1-8/12, single, born PA, father born Sweden, mother born PA. Occupation, None. In household of grandparents William W. (50) and Lusinda Rutters (47), with aunt Mary E. (19), uncle Robert W. (16), aunt Dorthy C. (13), and aunt Rebecca C. Rutters (11). (Enumerated 19 Feb 1920. Accessed 07 Apr 2014.) ^[5]

This profile is a collaborative work-in-progress. Can you contribute information or sources?

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Ancestry.com. U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Original data: National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; WWII Draft Registration Cards for Pennsylvania, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 1228. Accessed on ancestry.com, 19 November 2022.
   • View Ancestry Record 2238 #9277829 (requires subscription).
   • View free Ancestry Sharing Link on ancestry.com.
   • View free Ancestry Sharing Link on ancestry.com.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, U.S., Veteran Compensation Application Files, WWII, 1950-1966 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data: Pennsylvania (State). World War II Veterans Compensation Applications, circa 1950s. Records of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, Record Group 19, Series 19.92 (877 cartons). Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Accessed on ancestry.com, 19 November 2022.
   • View Ancestry Record 3147 #1391573 (requires subscription).
   • View free Ancestry Sharing Link on ancestry.com.
   • View free Ancestry Sharing Link on ancestry.com.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Gettysburg (PA) Times, obituary, Monday 10 Dec 1973, p. 1.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XCHH-CL5 : accessed 19 November 2022), Rodger C Johnson in household of William C Rutters, Mount Pleasant, Adams, Pennsylvania, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 38, sheet 9A, line 40, family 183, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1959; FHL microfilm 2,341,693.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} "United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6BC-XTB : 3 February 2021), Rodger Johnson in entry for William W Rutters, 1920.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KQW3-JZM : 7 January 2021), Rodger C Johnson in household of Edith B Smith, Hanover, York, Pennsylvania, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 67-35, sheet 8B, line 63, family 186, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 3642.
7. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #146053799. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/146053799/roger-charles-johnson: accessed 20 November 2022), memorial page for Roger Charles Johnson (30 Apr 1918–9 Dec 1973), Find a Grave Memorial ID 146053799, citing Oak Lawn Memorial Gardens, Gettysburg, Adams County, Pennsylvania, USA; Maintained by bcullisi1 (contributor 47926145).
8. ↑ Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, U.S., Veterans Burial Cards, 1777-2012 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Original data: Pennsylvania Veterans Burial Cards, 1777–2012. Series 4, Digital Images, 3–5. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Bureau of Archives and History. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Accessed on ancestry.com, 19 November 2022.
   • View Ancestry Record 1967 #1393883 (requires subscription).
   • View free Ancestry Sharing Link on ancestry.com.
9. ↑ "United States 1950 Census", citing Page: 21; Line: 8, FamilySearch Record: 6XBB-6VWQ (accessed 3 May 2023) FamilySearch Image: 3QHK-9QHW-XT8Q, Roger C Johnson (32), married, Cutter, head of household in Liberty Township, Adams, Pennsylvania, United States. Born in Pennsylvania.