Norman "General" Johnson passed away on Wednesday, June 17, 2015. He was born January 3, 1933 in Norwood, MA the only child of Arthur and Lillian (Logan) Johnson and spent his early years in Westwood, MA. Because of a bout with rheumatic fever as a child he was unable to participate in school sports and turned his interest to the high school dramatics club, co-starring in many plays. Norman graduated from Bentley College in 1952 and was hired by Eastman Kodak Co. of Rochester, New York as a junior accountant. He left that job the next year to join the U.S Air Force as a statistical specialist, serving in that capacity at Headquarters 20TH Air Force in Okinawa and Headquarters AACS in Washington D.C. In 1953 he married his high school sweetheart, Ruth Tolman. Upon his discharge in 1957 he joined the family restaurant business in Norwood, MA. In 1959 he purchased Marshall Ice Cream in Groton MA, renaming the restaurant "JOHNSONS". Over the next 26 years Norman actively managed the business, giving employment opportunities to over 500 area teens. A stern taskmaster, "Mr. J.", also affectionately called ''The General" tried to teach them to be prompt, courteous, neat in appearance, and not to be afraid of hard work. The General was happiest when his young charges succeeded in their life pursuits. While working a full schedule he found time to serve the town as a registrar of voters, a two term elected member of the Groton School Committee, the GDRSC, and filled a vacancy on the NVRHS building committee. He was a director of the Nashoba Credit Union for many years. The General was an ardent supporter of youth activities, including the annual UNICF fund drive Halloween party, summer league basketball, 4th grade basketball aide, and co-founder and worker on the Senior Bash for 11 years. His restaurant supported the Groton Police Association and he was an associate member of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association. Every Christmas his restaurant and staff hosted a holiday party for the Groton Highway and Light departments. Johnsons thrives today under the ownership of the Santiano family. After retiring from the restaurant business he partnered to form Village Homes and built many area homes. The General loved a practical joke and was often the recipient of the same. He loved to entertain and he and his wife Ruth hosted many a party.

He leaves his wife, Ruth; 4 children, Norman Jr. and his friend Diane of Delray Beach FL, Bruce and his wife, Dorothy of Woodburn OR, Jeffery and his wife, Susan of West Linn OR, and Nancy Henn and her friend, Bill of Groton, MA; 3 grandsons, Chad & Kyle Johnson and Walter Henn. He owes much of his success to former Johnson employees and two business partners, Barry Cunningham of Groton and David Rodgers of Lunenburg. Mr. Johnson was a member of Tahattawan Lodge AF&AM of Littleton, MA and a Shriner with Aleppo Temple in Boston.

Inurnment with military honors will be on Tuesday June 23, 2015 10:30AM at the South Florida National Cemetery (Lane #1) 6501 S. State Road 7 Lake Worth, FL 33449.