WILMINGTON — Wiley Ripon “Rip” Johnson, 91, of Wilmington, NC, died November 4, 2022, at his home.
He was born in Charleston, SC, to the late Edgar Garland Johnson and Bessie Bell Cantrell Johnson. Rip was a longtime resident of Wilmington and Boone.
He served in the US Navy and was a veteran of the Korean War. Rip earned his bachelor’s degree in biology at Appalachian State University. After 31 years, he retired from USDA, animal and plant health inspections. He was a seasonal employee of NCDA, plant industry and plant protection for 19 years. Rip was a Reader at Measurements, Inc for 12 years and was president of Kiwanis in Elizabethtown for 3 years.
Survivors include his wife, Betty Lanier Johnson of Wilmington, NC; one daughter, April Johnson Bryant; one granddaughter, Dawn Pickard Tyer; one great-granddaughter, Reece Michelle Tyer and one living sister, Ramona Johnson Kirk.
His favorite hobbies were gold, fishing and spending time with family.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, November 10, at Andrews Valley Chapel, 4108 S. College Rd., Wilmington, NC 28412. A private burial will take place in Wallace, NC.
