Rev. Arnie Johnson Sr.

BENTON, Ill. -- The Rev. Arnie L. Johnson Sr., 80, of Benton died Saturday, Dec. 18, 2004, at the Franklin Hospital in Benton.

He was born Feb. 24, 1924, in Ullin, Ill., son of Orville and Rosa Hess Johnson. He and Dorothy Kaiser were married Sept. 21, 1942.

He was a retired timber dealer and was ordained minister with the Apostolic Lighthouse International Inc. He was a Navy veteran of World War II.

Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Rosa Lee Decker of Chester, Ill., Virginia Diamond of Cape Girardeau, Margaret Morris of West Frankfort, Ill.; four sons, Arnie Johnson Jr. of Kentucky, Carl Johnson and Kenneth Johnson of Sanford, N.C., David Johnson of Logan, Ill.; two brothers, Floyd Johnson of Cobden, Ill., Orville Johnson of Tamms, Ill.; a sister, Nina Creekpaum of Sterling, Ill.; 25 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.

Johnson was preceded in death by his parents, a son, a granddaughter, three sisters and two brothers.

Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Hobbs-Johnson Funeral Home.

Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at United Pentecostal Church in Benton with Chris Hammonds officiating. Burial will be in the Masonic and Odd Fellows Cemetery in Benton.