Elwood Clifford Johnson DDS's Obituary
Dr. Elwood Clifford Johnson, on March 25, 2018, was carried by the angels into the presence of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, having trusted in Him alone for eternal life.
Cliff was born August 30, 1920 to Helen and Elwood Johnson of Vineland, NJ. He was the grandson of a Methodist minister.
After growing up in Palmyra, NJ, Cliff graduated from Temple University School of Dentistry. He married his high school sweetheart, Jackie Pennington of Riverton, just before serving as an Army dentist during WWII. After the war, Cliff started his practice in Riverton, retiring in 1988.
A loyal church member and Rotarian, he also enjoyed hunting, fishing, painting watercolors and entertaining friends and family at his swimming pool. He and Jackie traveled widely, with Switzerland being his favorite place.
Jackie and Cliff have three children: Cheryl Smekal, Jim Johnson, and Laurel Jack, who bore them 9 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren, and 2 great great grandchildren.
Cliff’s kindness and gentleness are legendary among not only his family but also hundreds of grateful patients of whom many became his friends. His spirit of love, giving, and forgiveness, modeled so faithfully, made it easy for all of us to understand the nature of God and to turn to Him. Thank you, Dad, for 97 wonderful years!
Cliff’s burial will be private, with a memorial service held on Saturday, April 21, 2018,at 2:30 pm at Epworth United Methodist Church, 501 Morgan Avenue, Palmyra, NJ, where Cliff attended for 94 years. Memorial gifts may be sent to Samaritan Hospice, www.samaritannj.org/Giving/Memorial-Gifts/, or to the Victoria Ercol Memorial Foundation, www.VEMfoundation.org, P.O. Box 2102, Medford Lakes, NJ 08088. A SPECIAL thank you to Rejoice Nukporpe, who cared for our Dad so lovingly and became part of our family. To share your fondest memories and condolences with Cliff’s family, please visit www.Givnish.com.
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