Harold Johnson

Harold Johnson was born on June 20, 1926, the seventh of eight children born to Jesse and Annabelle Johnson. Raised on a farm in Columbus, Ohio which is in the vicinity of the Ohio State University Agricultural Extension, this is where he learned to appreciate nature and all that is offered. Harold’s father taught him to hunt and fish, and his maternal grandmother taught him to garden. Life lessons became lifetime hobbies, which breathes life to the quote “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” Each year he planted a garden and eagerly awaited the appearance of the first ripe tomato. At an early age, Harold united with the Antioch Baptist Church, where he was baptized in the Olentangy River and where he attended Sunday school and served as a junior usher. Harold and his family later joined Christ Memorial Baptist Church and subsequently united with St. Paul A.M.E. where he served as a Steward, Trustee, Usher, driver in the bus ministry, and regularly attended bible study. Educated in Columbus Public Schools and graduating from North High School, he always had an entrepreneurial mindset. Immediately following high school, he was drafted into the United States Army where he served in World War II as a Military Police Officer. Shortly after returning home, Harold was introduced to the love of his life, Rita Joyce Johnson. They married and had three children. Harold and Rita truly enjoyed one another, and it showed in their work and play. Harold was a kind and loving husband and father who always put his family first. God blessed them with seventy-two years of wedded bliss; they were inseparable. Harold worked for the federal government at the Defense Construction Supply Center and retired as a supervisor in Data Systems. One morning, Harold had to detour on his way to work. He passed a vacant lot with a “For Sale” sign and thought about the lot all day. When he got home, he told Rita to stop what she was doing and come with him, he would explain on the way. They went to the realtor’s office and purchased the lot. The sign had been placed there that morning shortly before Harold drove by. Rita saw the lot for the first time before they returned home. This was the beginning of his entrepreneurial endeavors. Harold bought an open-air market stand, placed it on the lot and began selling produce. It became a family business which included his wife, children and a nephew. After two years, he erected a building on the property which became Harold Johnson & Son Farm Market, specializing in fresh produce, country meats, and selling Christmas trees in season. He subsequently opened and operated two other locations, Harold Johnson Farm Market and Harold’s University Farm Market, one of which was on the land where Harold was born, and this one was his pride and joy. Preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Gus, Eugene, Emanuel, Herman, and Cornelius Johnson, Alberta Dorsey and Elneata Bridges. He leaves to cherish his memory his wife, Rita Joyce Johnson; son Harold W. Johnson (Rossalyn); daughters, Asenath Johnson Simpson and Cheryl L. Johnson; close nephew who was more like a son Winslow H. Johnson; 5 grandchildren, Anika Simpson, Terelle Johnson, De’Leon Johnson, Bakari Simpson, Micah Edwards, Dwaun Cox, and Dashaunn Cox, 10 great grandchildren; best friend, Larry White; special friend, Harold Butler, and a host of nephews, nieces, other relatives and friends. For reasons of health and safety related to the current pandemic, the Johnson’s have elected to hold a private family ceremony. We invite you to join them in celebrating Harold’s life by enjoying his video tribute (to be posted when available) and sharing your words of reflection and encouragement on his memorial celebration wall.