CHARLES E. JOHNSON JR
CHARLES E. JOHNSON JR., 59, of Tujunga, CA died April 16, 2021, from complications related to COVID-19.
Charles’ interest in science and his vision for building and fixing things began at an early age, when he worked with his father to complete various design and construction projects, such as a model train layout and a house for his cat. In high school, he built a laser and won second place in the California State Science Fair. His laser was displayed at the 1976 California State Exposition and Fair in Sacramento. He also enjoyed building model airplanes, ships, cars, and more, meticulously painting and gluing the small parts together. More recently, he bought a historic home in Tujunga, and was in the process of making improvements to it. He loved animals of all kinds, especially cats. Fishing was a life-long hobby, so fresh-caught rainbow trout was often on the menu during family backpacking trips.
Charles earned an Associate in Science in Electronics at Los Angeles Valley College in August 1991, and started work on a B.S. in Industrial Technology at California State University, Los Angeles. He was a member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society at Cal State.
At the time of his death, Charles was a 14-year employee of Metropolitan Water District, serving as an instrument and control technician at Metropolitan’s Eagle Rock Control Center. He did trouble-shooting throughout the Los Angeles distribution area, and was responsible for ensuring the pressure flow valves, meters, chlorine analyzers and other instruments were properly calibrated for sending correct information to a remote terminal. That information was used at the Eagle Rock Control Center to remotely operate water flow at various plants throughout the Metropolitan distribution system. Charles was known as a dedicated and knowledgeable employee who rarely took a sick day or a break, very quiet and thorough in performing his duties. Prior to Metropolitan, he assisted with the development of specialty holographic products at Holoplex in Pasadena and at Wavefront Technology Inc.
Charles is survived by his son, Charles Brandon Johnson IV, of Manchester NH, and his stepmother, Janet Johnson Kornmesser, of Tucson AZ. He is also survived by an uncle, Fred Hager, of New Bern, NC, and an aunt, Barbi Carpenter, of Yucaipa CA. He was a resident of Tujunga, CA, having previously resided in several other Southern California communities.
A Zoom Memorial service is planned for Saturday, June 19th, 11:00 A.M. (PDT). To attend, please send your name and email address to Charles B. Johnson IV, jbrandon.cj@gmail.com no later than June 17th.
Should you wish, donations in Charles’ name may be made to Room 8 Memorial Cat Foundation (www.room8cats.org/), or to a charity of your choice. Further information about this foundation may be found at: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Room_8.
