Noreen Abdelhamid

September 20, 2023

JRMC 2202
Obituary Writing Assignment

John J. Johnson, President of the Farmer’s Bank in Riverdale, Dies at 74

John J. Johnson, a beloved and active member of the Riverdale Community, passed due
to a heart attack at 74 during the first quarter of Monday night’s Riverdale High School
basketball game against Geneva.
Johnson was an active member of the Riverdale community, where he was born and
raised. He earned an MBA degree from Riverdale University in 1950 and played basketball for
Riverdale University, where he was an all-conference performer. Johnson was also a member of
the Riverdale School Board from 1960 to 1970, and the Riverdale City Council from 1970 to
1978. In addition to being part of the community’s higher boards, Johnson was the President of
the State Bankers’ Association in 1977. At the time of his passing, he was the President of the
Riverdale Farmer’s Bank.
Johnson, the son of a longtime minister of the First Presbyterian Church of Riverdale,
was convicted in 1944 for draft evasion. Despite this, he became quite an active member of
Riverdale.
His Funeral services will take place on Thursday, 11 a.m., at the McGrew-Jones Funeral
Home, 2121 Central Ave. in Riverdale. Johnson will be buried at the Evergreen Cemetary. He
passed away surrounded by the community he was born and raised with. He is survived by his
wife, Helen. The Family appreciates that any contributions or flowers be sent to the Local Heart
Association in his name, despite passing, Johnson keeps giving to his community.