Obituary of Joseph Edgar Beadle Johnson

Joseph Edgar Beadle Johnson, age 96, lifelong resident of Cheshire, entered into rest peacefully on Tuesday, January 27, 2015 at his home. Edgar was born on March 26, 1918 in Cheshire, son of the late Joseph Ransom and Cora Eloise (Beadle) Johnson, and was a member of one of the founding families in Cheshire. Edgar was a humble man who sought to contribute to the Cheshire community in any way he could, without seeking recognition. He attended Cheshire Academy, Class of 1938. He was a benefactor and started The Edgar Johnson Fund so that the academy would continue to expand and therefore his legacy would live on. He was a graduate of the Stone College, New Haven after earning an accounting degree. During WWII, Edgar was drafted into the U.S. Army in the spring of 1942 to a newly formed Quartermaster 58 unit. During the Normandy Invasion, July 5th D30, his unit came ashore on to Utah beach on route to setup a POL supply point at Liege Belgium. His unit supplied the 1st Army, 6th Army and Patton’s 3rd Army towards the end of the Battle of the Bulge. His unit was continually under attack by Germany V1 flying bombs. He was honorably discharged in January 1946. It was at that time he began working abroad for the Federal Government as a civilian with the Army Corp of Engineers in Germany, obtaining property for U.S. Generals and their families. During his time, with Land Research Development, he worked on restitution projects to restore properties back to German families and obtain missile sites in Europe during the Cold War. He went on to South Korea and came home to retired in 1963. He went on to find interest in collecting books, stamps, coins, bottles, tools, and studying genealogy; he was a voracious reader. He was a past President of the Board of Directors of Cheshire Hillside Cemetery, a member of American Legion Post 0200 in Rocky Hill and a Mason at the Temple Lodge 16, Cheshire. Edgar was a longtime beloved member of the Cheshire Historical Society, having been the Curator from 1987 until 2004, then Curator Emeritus from 2004 to present, and will be remembered for his invaluable service. Edgar was the loving uncle of John W. Welch, Jr. and his wife Donna, and great uncle to Mitchell J. Welch and his wife Alexandra, and Molly A. Welch, all of Southington. He was predeceased by his sister Anna (Johnson) Welch and her husband John W. Welch, Sr. His family would like to extend their sincerest gratitude to Edgar’s devoted caregivers, who were just as family to him; Candida Gomes, Amelia Gomes, Regina Sousa and Maria Rebelo, and dear friend Frank Gomes. The Alderson-Ford Funeral Home of Cheshire has been entrusted with Edgar’s arrangements. A private graveside service with Full Military Honors will be celebrated in Cheshire Hillside Cemetery at the convenience of his family. At the request of his family, memorial contributions may be made to the Cheshire Historical Society, 43 Church Street, Cheshire, CT 06410.