Harold E. Johnson

Harold Everett Johnson of Washington Court House, Ohio passed away peacefully at 6:28 a.m. on Tuesday, September 9th, 2025. He was at the Kettering Health Washington Township Hospital in Dayton, Ohio surrounded by his family. Harold was born on June 29th,1945 at Grant Hospital in Columbus, Ohio to Marvin E. and Helen L. (Kearns) Johnson.

He was a 1963 graduate of Fairfield High School located in Leesburg, Ohio. As a lifelong resident of Fayette County, never living more than 3 miles from the crossroads locally known as Buena Vista, he was very active in the community. In his earlier years with his parents, he helped his dad in farming and custom baling - both jobs he loved because he worked alongside his brothers. In the early 1970s, he decided to work for Armco, a major steel manufacturer in Washington Court House.

His career in cable tool water well drilling started in the mid-1970s when John W. Short (his father-in-law) suggested he helped in his established business of Short Well Drilling in Staunton, Ohio. It was over the next decade where he learned all aspects of private water systems, began to understand the local geology, and to make friends of customers along the way. He formed his own company in 1985 becoming known today as “H.E. Johnson and Son Well Drilling, LLC” and located in Buena Vista.

He and his family purchased the family farm after the passing of his brother Herman in 2006. Recognizing the role of being stewards of the land, Harold decide to plant 40 tillable acres into native grasses under Conservation Reserve Program offered by the USDA Farm Service Agency. His son enrolled the remainder 40 tillable acres of the “Walnut Grove Family Farm, LLC” into this program recently. Harold’s decisions have improved the water quality for the Rattlesnake Watershed, improved soil conservation within the family farm, and provided much needed habitat for deer, turkeys, pheasants, and quail.

Harold enjoyed fishing in Ontario, Canada and small game hunting locally. Playing horseshoes, arrowhead hunting, and mushroom hunting are a few of his loved pastimes. Home-cooked meals and spending time with his family during holidays were always times he looked forward to each year. Harold loved to go on vacations with his family, including his brother Herman, to area primarily in the United States and Canada. Several trips were for steam train excursions, with the most recent being in 2019 to see the Union Pacific Big Boy #4014 traveling between Chicago, Illinois and Omaha, Nebraska. Antique tractor shows were frequently visited when Harold could get away for those weekend events. Short camping trips in eastern Ohio to visit Amish communities using his motorhome and winter stays in Pine Island, Florida were enjoyed in later years.

Harold served his country in the U.S. Army National Guard with assignments at Fort Jackson, South Carolina and Camp Grayling, Michigan.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by: Jerry (brother), Herman (brother), and Marilyn (sister). He is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Diana (Short) Johnson of Washington Court House and his children: Dr. Harold E. Johnson, II of Leesburg, Ohio and College Station, Texas; Sherry (Evan) Hickey of Blanchester, Ohio; Tamela Hatfield of Marina, California. Surviving grandchildren are Evan (Melissa) Hickey, II, Ashlynn Hickey, Garrett (Kaitlyn) Hickey, and Kaitlynn Hickey. Three surviving great grandchildren are Benjamin, Aiden, and Adalynn. Surviving brothers are David Johnson and Eric Johnson.  

Many surviving nieces, nephews, cousins, and a host of friends will miss him dearly as Harold was a man of integrity, kindness, and generosity. He was a wonderful husband and loving father. Family and friends may visit at Littleton Funeral Home in Sabina, Ohio on Thursday, September 18 th from 6:00 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Funeral service will be held on Friday, September 19 th at 2 p.m. Pastors attending are Rick Garrison and Roger Newkirk. Graveside service at White Oak Grove Cemetery, Buena Vista. Gathering of friends and family to follow at Walnut Hill Church Fellowship Hall.