Richard "Earl" Johnson

Richard “Earl” Johnson, 85, went home to be with the Lord on January 11, 2026, after he, along with the support of his wife, Fran, fought a long, courageous battle with cancer.

Born on May 9, 1940, in Somerville, New Jersey, to George and Hazel Johnson, Earl lived a life defined by love and devotion. While serving in the U.S. Navy and docked in Boston, he met the love of his life, Frances McCuen Johnson. It was truly love at first sight. After his honorable discharge, Earl and Fran settled in Hamilton, Ohio, where they built a beautiful life and family together.

Known affectionately as “Big Earl,” he was a big man with an even bigger heart. A true renaissance man, Earl was a designer, carpenter, electrician, car mechanic, wood crafter, skilled leather tooler, musician, licensed barber, Fairfield Rotarian, and a proud golfer with The Worm Burners. Above all, he was a devoted husband to Fran for sixty‑five years.

Earl was the best father his two sons—Richard Don Johnson (Mary) and Mark Randy Johnson (Dora)—could have hoped for. Later in life, he found immense joy in being Papa to Austin Johnson (Eliza), Sawyer Johnson (Abby), and Carson Johnson (Stacey), and a great‑grandfather to Ezme, Ella, and Archer, with another great‑grandchild on the way.

In the mid‑seventies, Earl, Fran, Don, and Randy were blessed to be embraced as family by the Phipps family of Fairfield, Ohio. Bobby, Dale, Dave, Donnie, Charlotte, Carol, their spouses and children, showed through the years what unconditional love looks like and how friendship can last a lifetime. Earl also cherished his brothers-in-law Paul McCuen (Dotty), John McCuen and cousins, Jackie Bain and Melvin Spangenberg (Sharon).

A Life Celebration will be held on Saturday, May 9th, at Brown‑Dawson‑Flick Funeral Home, 1350 Millville Ave., Hamilton, OH 45013. Visitation will take place from 10 AM to 12 PM, followed by a memorial service led by Earl’s son, Mark and Pastor Doug Dunlap.

Following the service, all who knew and loved Earl are invited to join the family at The Washington Event Center, 877 NW Washington Blvd., Hamilton, OH 45013.

In lieu of flowers, Earl requested that donations be made to either the Nuxhall Foundation to support the continued enhancement of the Miracle League Fields and programs, or to the Butler East YMCA. Donations may be made online to NuxhallMiracleLeague.org or by mail to: Nuxhall Foundation, P.O. Box 18146, Fairfield, OH 45018‑0146.For the YMCA, please direct your donation to gmvymca.org/gift or mail to Butler East YMCA, 6645 Morris Road, Hamilton, OH 45011.