Obituary - Ralph Eugene Johnson
Monday, March 26, 2012
Ralph Eugene Johnson, 79, of Bowling Green, Ky., died Monday, March 12, 2012 at the Hospice Center. The Scottsville native was born March 7, 1933, son of the late Ralph and Sada Hagan Johnson. He was preceded in death by his father and mother-in-law, John and Virginia Sledge Oliphant.
Johnson was a retired civil engineer for the USDA and after retirement became actively involved in farming. He was a graduate of the University of Kentucky, holding a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering and a Master of Science degree in structural design.
Johnson was the past president of both the Warren County Saddle Club and the Bowling Green Horse Association. He was an active Democrat and member of the University of Kentucky Alumni Association, as well as an usher and past trustee of Eastwood Baptist Church. In 1990, he was the Warren County Conservationist of the Year and in 1999, he was the County and District Corn Growers of the year.
Ralph Johnson was well-known for showing Tennessee Walking Horses in Tennessee and Kentucky, especially, Sundust Parader. He was awarded the Kentucky Walking Horse Sportsmanship Awards for two years.
He is survived by his wife, Romanza Oliphant Johnson of Bowling Green, Ky.; one sister, Ada Reed Covington of Frankfort; brother-in-law, E.H. "Sonny" Oliphant of Tompkinsville; two nephews, John (Mindy) Covington, II and John Covington IV; and niece, Hannah Covington, all of Frankfort and several cousins.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, March 14 at Eastwood Baptist Church with burial following at Fairview Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Southern Kentucky, Eastwood Baptist Church, or The Ralph and Romanza Johnson Scholarship Fund, College Heights Foundation, or Western Kentucky University.