Ralph H. Johnson

Kind, caring and loving, Ralph H. Johnson passed away on July 18, 2023 at home in Hudson, NH, at the age of 82. Ralph was born in Nashua, NH, on July 10, 1941 to the late Ralph H. Johnson, Sr. and Louise (Parkinson) Johnson. He attended Nashua schools and graduated from Nashua High School with the class of 1959. His high school classmates continue to meet each month for lunch. He and his wife, Joanne Dowd, were classmates in the 4th grade at Amherst Street School. In his youth, he loved playing little league baseball, hunting and fishing. As a teenager, he started playing the game of golf and maintained a lifelong passion for the game. Ralph cherished his time in the US Navy, serving on the USS Dahlgren in 1960s. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, his ship escorted the Russian ships that removed the missiles from Cuba. Ralph worked in management at Anheuser-Busch in Merrimack for over 25 years. He was there the first day it opened and was considered a plank owner. He played on their golf team for many years and made many dear friends. After suffering an intracerebral hemorrhage at the age of 49, he was no longer capable of working and had to retire. He spent many years of rehabilitation. Ralph built a home in Hollis NH, and it was there he (and ex-wife, Doreen Johnson) raised three children, Tanya, Tim and Todd. While in Hollis he bred and trained beagles for field work, belonged to the Hollis Men’s Bowling League and relished his time driving his Trans Am. Ralph’s day always started with his favorite meal, breakfast, preferably eggs Benedict. He would dress in khakis and a golf shirt before heading out the door to do daily errands and sneak in a stop at Hayward's ice cream for a hot fudge sundae. He loved watching Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy and eating a nice grilled steak for dinner. He spent many years of rehabilitation and then became a volunteer at St. Joseph’s Hospital for 15 years. Ralph was always so thankful to have friends and family around. He loved playing cards and especially loved teaching card games to his granddaughters. He loved to burst into song ("Take Me Home, Country Roads" was a favorite) and after everyone joined in, Ralph would always say “Thanks for the memories.” Ralph was predeceased by his parents and his brothers, John and David of Nashua. He is survived by his wife, Joanne Dowd, whom he cherished with all his heart; his daughter, Tanya and her husband, Patrick Engle, and their two daughters, Caitlyn and Cassidy; his two sons, Tim and Todd Johnson; his step-daughter, Suzanne Graham and her two children, Alison and Adam. He is also survived by nieces and nephews and so many wonderful friends. Following cremation, his cremains will be buried next to his brother, John, at Edgewood Cemetery in Nashua. There are no calling hours, but a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Donations in his loving memory may be made to the Nashua Soup Kitchen, 2 Quincy St, Nashua, NH 03060 or online at Nashua Soup Kitchen & Shelter at www.nsks.org

Ralph H. Johnson

July 10, 1941 - July 18, 2023