May 17, 1936 — May 8, 2026
On May 8th, 2026, Paul Johnson, Jr of Campbellsville, Kentucky passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by family and friends. He was alarmingly close to 90 years old, missing his birthday by only 9 days.
Paul was a graduate of Campbellsville High School Class of 1953, and obtained a degree in Agriculture from the University of Kentucky. While attending classes in Lexington, he became involved in the Presbyterian Student Fellowship and met the love of his life, Joan Shear.
After college, Paul served in the army as an infantry officer with the 100th Division in Ft. Chaffee, Arkansas, and often used his weekend leave to drive from Arkansas to see Joan at her home in New York. All those miles on the road paid off, and they married in 1962, beginning a life-long partnership that lasted 58 years.
Paul taught school at Taylor County High while also farming, developing subdivisions, and building houses. He was part owner of Buckhorn Block Company. In 1986 he joined the Campbellsville Water Company until his retirement in 1998, after which he and Joan traveled extensively covering many parts of the globe. Paul found a way to combine his love of travel with his knowledge of engineering and water through Living Waters of the World, a non-profit that builds sustainable water purification systems for rural communities. He and Joan participated in multiple installations of these systems in small towns across Mexico.
As much as he enjoyed seeing the world, Paul’s heart and passion remained in his beloved hometown. He was an active member of Bethel First Presbyterian Church serving at the local, state, and national level. He spent many years with the Lions Club including multiple terms as local chapter president, and served on the Brookside Cemetery board.
Paul was preceded in death by his parents, Paul Johnson, Sr, and Brooksie Davenport Johnson, and his devoted wife, Joan Shear Johnson. He is survived by his children Joey Johnson of Springfield, Kentucky, and Emily Johnson Baskin (Jim) of Durango, Colorado, as well as many treasured nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Visitation: 5:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M., Thursday, May 14, 2026, at Parrott & Ramsey Funeral Home in Campbellsville
Funeral Service: 10:00 A.M., Friday, May 15, 2026, at Bethel First Presbyterian Church in Campbellsville by Rev. Jim Murphy
Burial: Bethel Cemetery
EXPRESSIONS OF SYMPATHY REQUESTED TO BE DONATIONS TO BETHEL FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AND LIVING WATERS OF THE WORLD AND MAY BE MADE AT PARROTT & RAMSEY FUNERAL HOME