Bruce L. Johnson

September 24, 2019

Bruce Loren Johnson, 66, was born in Louisville, KY, where his father was attending Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. As his parents served in their ministries, Bruce spent his early years in various localities in Nelson County, Shenandoah and Staunton. In 1967, the family returned home to Tidewater. Bruce was very proud of how he had “helped” his Granddaddy Collier to transform the family’s pink cinderblock beach house in Respass Beach into a beautiful brick rancher. In 1971, Bruce graduated from Frederick Military Academy in Portsmouth, and then went on to attend Virginia Tech. On October 15, 1972, a chance encounter through mutual friends brought Bruce to meet a fellow Hokie from Charlottesville: Donna Spicer. A connection was immediately felt by each of them, and they were married on September 14, 1974 at First Baptist Church in Charlottesville. They recently celebrated their 45th anniversary. Bruce completed his education at Tech in 1978, having received a Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Science and a Master of Science in Nuclear Engineering. He began his professional career at Exxon Nuclear in Richland, WA. In 1980, Bruce & Donna moved to Hixson, TN for his work with TVA in Chattanooga. In 1984, they moved to Columbia, SC for his position at South Carolina Electric & Gas. Both of their daughters are Palmetto gals, Loren Elizabeth born in 1985 and Andrea Brooke born in 1988. In 1998, Bruce brought his family home to Respass Beach. He and Donna once again remodeled the same beach cottage/rancher to put their personal touch on the family home. He retired in 2018 from Newport News Shipbuilding, concluding a career focused on design and maintenance of nuclear reactor fuel cores. Bruce served in many capacities while a member of Westhaven Baptist Church in Portsmouth: deacon, youth ministry, VBS, and music ministry. He served as a representative for Respass Beach on the Former Nansemond Ordinance Depot (FNOD) Restoration Advisory Board. He was a member of the Portsmouth Amateur Radio Club, proudly continuing in his father’s tradition as K4ZMM. Bruce remained a proud and loyal Hokie. Bruce was preceded in death by his father, Andrew Boydston Johnson, Jr. He is survived by his wife, Donna Spicer Johnson, two daughters, Loren Johnson and Andrea Villareal, two granddaughters, Virginia Villarreal and Magnolia Villarreal. He is also survived by his mother, Clarice Collier Johnson, two sisters, Karen Johnson and Cheryl Randolph, a brother James Lowell Johnson and wife, Hazel. Many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and in-laws also survive him. The family will receive friends in the funeral home Saturday from 12:30 pm to 1 pm. A celebration of his life will be held at 1 pm with Dr. Dan Koger officiating.