Wilbur J. Johnson, 77, of Wood River, passed away Monday, Feb. 22, 2016, at Meridian Village in Edwardsville.
He was born March 2, 1938, in Alton, the son to Wilbur Frank and Mary Elizabeth (Edlen) Johnson. He married Carmelita Rita Forbes Sept. 20, 1963, in Alton and she preceded him in death March 7, 2007.
Wilbur retired from the U.S. Army in 1994 with 26 years of service. He served in the 25th Infantry Division during the Vietnam War as a Combat Engineer and was a survivor of the 1968 Tet Offensive, then serving in support of Operation Desert Storm.
He is survived by three sons, Frank (Renee) Johnson of Liberty, Mo., Jon (Janine) Johnson of Battle Creek, Mich., and Robert Johnson of Granite City; two daughters, Robin (Jack) Hake of Edwardsville and Tina Rodriguez of East Alton; 17 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, five siblings, Clarence Johnson, Patricia Wolf, Wilburta Gorman, Alice Waggoner and Marilyn Moore; one grandchild and seven great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016, at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Edwardsville. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016, at St. Boniface Catholic Church with Father Delix Michel as Celebrant. Burial will follow at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis. Paynic Home for Funerals in Rosewood Heights entrusted with professional service. Memorials can be made to the American Heart Association or Multiple Sclerosis Society. Online guestbook available at www.paynicfh.com.