Richard Claude Johanson

Richard Claude Johanson died July 20, 2010, at Butterfield Trail Village. He was born in Minneapolis, Minn., Aug. 10, 1924, to Claus Leonard and Mildred Oulman Johanson. He attended Minneapolis Washburn High School, Carleton College in Northfield, Minn., and joined the Army Air Crops (later the United States Air Force) in 1943. He flew as navigator 25 missions in B-17's with the 379th bomb group during World War II. He attended the University of Minnesota upon discharge and then Southern Methodist University in Dallas where he received a BBA and MBA. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta. He was recalled to serve in the Korean War with MATS, stationed in Japan. Johanson was employed eight years by the Ford Motor Co. Dallas Assembly Plant as supervisor of Industrial Relations; and then, 12 years as vice president of personnel and planning for Continental-Emsco Co., an international petroleum, chemical and industrial equipment company in Dallas. He received a Ph.D. in Business Administration from the University of North Texas and taught over 20 years in the Management Department of the University of Arkansas, retiring as professor emeritus in 1989. In his corporate and university years he was a founder of the Dallas Personnel Association, president of the Dallas American Society of Training Directors and a founder of the North Texas Chapter of ASTD and NOARK in Arkansas. He was a Mason and a 32nd Degree Shriner of Hella Temple, Dallas. He served on the Dallas Integration Commission, also in Dallas as a senior warden of the Church of the Incarnation and St. Luke's Episcopal Church; St. David's in Denton, Texas, Executive Committee of the Arkansas Diocese, St. Paul's Episcopal Church and most recently as senior warden of St. Gabriel's Anglican Church, Springdale. He founded a management consulting firm, incorporated in 1973, and served multi-industry clients throughout the United States. He is survived by his loving wife, Shirley, of 62 years; their children, Kathleen and husband, James Webster, of Fayetteville, Claudia and husband, Cary McClure Abney, of Marshall, Texas, and Karen and husband, John Cole, Blair and wife, Ann Johanson, and Bruce and wife, Debra Johanson, all of Fayetteville; his sister, Mary and husband, George Jeffers, of Granbury, Texas; also proudly adored 11 grandchildren, Kerry Webster Gobel, Becky Webster Gayer, Blair Abney, Karen Abney Neal, Alan Cole, Richard Cole, Thomas Cole, Steven Johanson, Lindsay Johanson, Grant Johanson and Matt Johanson; and six great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents; and sister, Marlys and her husband, John Higgins. Dick Johanson's family remember him as a beloved father, grandfather and great-grandfather who inspired them with his quiet but powerful love for his family and others, his extreme intelligence, his strong determination and drive, his proven entrepreneurship abilities for himself and his clients and his ever present encouragement to family members and his students. A memorial service will be held at 5:30 this evening, July 22, 2010, at St. Gabriel's Anglican Church, located at 1803 W. Emma in Springdale, Ark., with the Rev. John Slavin officiating. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 24, 2010, at Sparkman-Hillcrest in Dallas, under the direction of Moore's Chapel of Fayetteville, Ark. Memorials may be sent to St. Gabriel's Anglican Church, 1803 W. Emma, Springdale, Arkansas 72762; or Life Styles, P.O. Box 1114, Fayetteville, Ark. 72702-1114. To sign the online guest book, visit www.mooresfuneralchapel.com.