1932 – 2015

LEWISTON — E. Roland Johnson, 83, of Auburn passed away Monday morning, Oct. 12, at d’Youville Pavilion in Lewiston.

He was born in Everett, Mass., on April 8, 1932, a son of the late Ernest C. and Ingrid (Muhlbock) Johnson. He grew up in the area and attended local schools there. He was a graduate of Everett Vocational High School, Class of 1950.

In May 1952, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and proudly served his country while stationed in Germany during the Korean War until 1954. On May 29 of that same year, he married Barbara Brigham at the Church of the Nazarene in Cambridge, Mass.

After they were married, Roland worked for many years at Buck Printing before changing careers and working with ServiceMaster Co. as a manager of housekeeping and laundry. Through working with ServiceMaster, he was relocated several times with the family, eventually retiring and residing in Maine in 1997. Roland loved woodworking and will always be remembered for being an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed cycling and running in his earlier days. He enjoyed his retirement years at his camp at Sandy Bottom Pond in Turner. He was also well-known for being humble and patient because of his strong faith and love of God.

He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Barbara Johnson of Auburn; his children, Donna Merry and her husband, Joel, of West Bath, Beth Combs and her husband, Mike, of Suffolk, Va., and Ernest “Ernie” Johnson and his wife, Karen, of Portsmouth, N.H. He also leaves behind his four grandchildren, Jennifer Iverson, Jonathan Merry, Meg Moore and Barbara Hackett; his six great-grandchildren, Jakob and Gunnar Iverson, Jonaya and Jonathan Moore, and Paige and Lillian Lavoie; as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was predeceased by his six siblings. Muriel, Hazel, Elinor, Bob, Edward and Barbara.

Condolences may be shared with the family at www.thefortingroupauburn.com.