Former Hawera Grocer Dies at Wellington

Taranaki Daily News, 28 August 1942, Page 5

Former Hawera Grocer Dies at Wellington

The death of Mr. William Thomas Johnson, aged 61 years, a former Hawera businessman, occurred at Wellington on Wednesday. Born at Pennerly, Shropshire, England. Mr. Johnson came to New Zealand in 1913 and left for service in the last war with the 28th ReinforcemOnShis return to New Zealand he set up in business in the retail grocery trade in Union Street, Hawera. He then ioined Mr. J. Hey in the partnership of Johnson and Hey in High Street, and on the death of his partner contmued on his own account until ill-health necessitated his retirement. For several years Mr. Johnson was secretary of the Hawera Boy Scouts citizens' committee during the period of the chairmanship of Mr. E. Dixon and did excellent work. He received , from Lord Baden Powell an acknowledgment of this service in the form of a personal letter of thanks. He was also Bible class leader in the Hawera Methodist Church and by his personal attributes he had a marked influence for good in the youth movement of the church. He was a local preacher and a trustee. Mr. Johnson was a member of the Masonic Lodge and a prominent member of the South Taranaki Returned Services' Association. He was an active member of the Hawera male choir, possessing a fine bass voice, a Rotarian and a cricket enthusiast. He is survived by his widow, Mrs. E. E. Johnson, and two children, Eric Johnson and Muriel Johnson, and three brothers and a sister living in England. A private interment will take place at the Hawera cemetery to-morrow.