Dates
Monday morning, June 2, 2025, Martin Arthur Johnson departed this world for his forever home. Martin was born to Kennard and Louise Johnson in Sioux City, Iowa on July 15, 1946. With his dad being in the military, they moved around the country wherever they were needed. In 1959, the family settled in Roswell, New Mexico. Before Martin graduated high school in 1965, he met the love of his life, Susan Willingham. After high school, Martin moved to Plainview, Texas for school to become a court reporter. He graduated from the Business College of the Southwest as the fastest stenographer in his class typing on average 200 to 250 words per minute. While in school, Martin married the love of his life, Susan Willingham and moved her to San Antonio as soon as he graduated. His first job was as a freelance stenographer for the City of San Antonio. They then moved to Beeville, Texas where Martin worked for Judge Joe Wade in Bee County, Aransas County and San Patricio County. Martin and Susan had two boys while in Beeville. Then in 1978, an opportunity to work for Judge Steib, opened in San Angelo, Texas. Martin stayed with Tom Green County until Judge Steib retired. He and Susan then started Angelo Reporting, a private stenographer business. After selling Angelo Reporting, Martin continued working for Tom Green County serving with Judge Sutton and then Judge Woodward until his retirement in 2010.
After retiring from the county, Martin and Susan began to travel. Cruising was a favorite pastime as was traveling all over the United States to watch their grandchildren play and coach, volleyball, basketball, tennis, softball, football and run cross country. Martin could be found sitting front row at all his grandkids’ sporting events and cheering them and their teammates on. Martin also enjoyed time spent at the coast. We are not sure if it was his love of fishing or eating fresh shrimp that drew him to the coast, but his love of the area was passed down to his kids and grandkids.
Martin loved teaching his grandkids, especially about animals. It didn’t matter if was horses, cows, goats, dogs, rabbits, fish or birds. He loved them all. Any animal lucky to find itself at the Johnson house was a blessed animal indeed. Martin also had a passion for early 70’s style pickups (which he had dreams of restoring one day) and Harley Davidson motorcycles. This fascination started in his teen years while spending time working in his Dad’s Harley Davidson shop in Roswell, New Mexico. Martin always had the coolest car or bike around and could fix just about anything on his hotrods and motorcycles.
Martin is preceded in death by his parents, Kennard and Louise Johnson. He is survived by his wife, Susan, their two boys, Rick (Stacy) Johnson and Kenneth (Chris) Johnson, his grandchildren, Jami Dale, Kodie Johnson, Corie Swagger, Blake Johnson, Rylie Clements and Kyle Johnson and great grandchildren James Stanley, Abbi Dale, Bennett Dale and Ophelia Johnson. He is also survived by his sister Margaret (Dale) Turner.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Cornerstone Christian School of San Angelo, Athletic Department, 1502 N. Jefferson St, San Angelo, TX 76901. A family graveside service will be held in Roswell, New Mexico at a later date.