Colonel Ed Johnson, USAF, Retired, was born August 27, 1933, near the village of Plainfield in Coshocton County, Ohio, son of Margaret and Frank Johnson.
He had two younger sisters Jackie and Barbara. Ed was a 1951 graduate of Plainfield High School; received a BA in Social Sciences from Syracuse University, an MA in Criminal Justice/Forensic Science from George Washington University and 15 PhD hours from the University of Virginia. He is a graduate of the USAF's Air War College, the FBI National Academy, the Secret Service School and several other management, leadership, and training schools.Ed is a US Air Force veteran of the Korea and Vietnam wars, retiring in the grade of Colonel. He enlisted in the Air Force in Ohio, in 1952, after high school and served 6 years as an enlisted man achieving the grade of Staff Sergeant prior to his selection for Officer Candidate School.
During his 30-year active-duty military career Ed was Commanding Officer for six major USAF units including a Presidential security position for Air Force One. Ed was assigned to bases in Portugal, Scotland, Vietnam, and the Philippines during eleven years of overseas duty and at numerous other stateside units with the Strategic Air Command, Tactical Air Forces, and the Military Airlift Command. His last military assignment was as the Deputy Chief of Staff, Security Forces, the Head of Pacific Air Force Security.
During his military career he was awarded the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star (Vietnam), Meritorious Service Awards x2, Air Force Commendation Medal x5, the Vietnam Medal of Honor, The Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award ("V" for valor device - Vietnam) and numerous other decorations and awards.Following Ed's Air Force retirement, he was Corporate Director, Security and Safety for Saudi Aramco's US facilities in Houston, Texas and in 1986 was promoted to Technical Security Advisor for the Saudi Aramco corporate facilities within the Central Region of Saudi Arabia. While living in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia he was also the company's primary coordinator with Allied Forces operating in the area during the Gulf War. He retired from Saudi Aramco after ten years' service.
In 1992 Ed became the Corporate Director of Security and Safety for Maxus Energy Corporation in Dallas Texas providing security programs for 27 overseas locations.
Ed is a past president of the Hawaii Police Officer's Association and a past 4-year president of the USAF Security Police Association. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Northampton Subdivision in Spring, Texas, the Board of Directors in Pecan Plantation in Granbury, Texas, and the Board of Directors of the USAF Security Police Association. He served as the Board Director, Petroleum Industry Security Council in Houston, Texas. He is a member of American Legion Post 228 in Georgetown, Texas, Life Member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1330 and AMVETS Post 36 in Coshocton, Ohio. ED is a 60 plus year life member Of Simonton Masonic Lodge 748 in Conroe, Texas, Scottish Rite, Houston, Texas. He is an active member of First Baptist Church, Georgetown Texas, and a member of Plainfield United Methodist Church since 1939.
Ed was married to the late Jean (Shoemaker) Johnson, his high school sweetheart, for 62 years before her passing. Ed and Jean had four "chosen" children with roots in four different countries: Mark (Kathy) Johnson of Houston, Texas; Leslie Johnson of Lipan, Texas; Scott Johnson of Conroe, Texas; and Paul Johnson (deceased). Ed and Jean also fostered an 8-member family from Viet Nam and arranged housing, employment and anything else needed for them to become productive American citizens. His late-life special marriage to Joyce Faye Cox of Georgetown, Texas gifted him with three more daughters, Lucinda, Melanie, and Tara and seven more grandchildren to add to his eight grandchildren and 10 great children. He was also proud to serve as the sole surviving uncle of 49 plus nephews and nieces.
Ed passed away on August 18, 2025, after a brave and long illness.
A graveside service will be held on Friday, September 26, 2025, at 11:00 am at Plainfield Cemetery, in Plainfield, Ohio with Reverend John Armstrong officiating. Members of the USAF along with the Coshocton County Honor Guard will conduct military honors. Given-Dawson-Paisley Funeral Home is serving the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Plainfield United Methodist Church, 101 Church St, Plainfield, Ohio 43836.An online memorial can be viewed at
