CHELMSFORD – Arthur H. Johnson, 87, a longtime resident of Chelmsford, passed away on Sunday, November 24, 2013 at the Lahey Clinic, surrounded by his loving wife and children. He was the beloved husband of Barbara (Larssen) Johnson who survives him and with whom he shared 60 wonderful years of marriage.

Arthur was born in Woburn, MA on August 11, 1926 and was a son of the late Ernest B. and Ruth C. (Peterson) Johnson.
Arthur spent his early childhood in Woburn, later moving to Dunstable and then Lexington, where he was raised on a dairy farm.
He attended Essex County Agricultural School, and upon graduation honorably served in the US Navy during WWII on the USS Princeton. He loved his country and proudly served.

Arthur owned and operated Arthur H. Johnson Plumbing & Heating. He served Chelmsford and the surrounding areas for over 36 years until his retirement in 2008. He loved the interaction with his customers and cared about them deeply.

He was a devout Christian and a member of the Carlisle Congregational Church, where he also taught Sunday School. He took great pride in his Swedish heritage traditions and passed on these traditions to his children. One of Arthur’s favorite pastimes was tending to his garden and sharing the fruits of his labor, especially his prized tomatoes, with family, friends and neighbors. A devoted husband and father, Arthur enjoyed attending almost every sporting event played by his children and grandchildren. He was a true family man that cherished every moment spent with his beloved family.
In addition to the love of his life, Barbara, he is survived by his 5 children; Pamela S. Murphy and her husband Barry of Haverhill, Arthur H. Johnson, Jr. and his wife Coral of Nashua, NH Erik H. Johnson and his wife Donna of Merrimack, NH, Sonja R. Pratt and her husband Laurence of Nashua, NH and Melissa E. Duffy and her husband Mark of Chelmsford, 11 grandchildren; Shawna Mottram and her husband Michael, Owen Murphy and his fiancé Helen Veasey, Nolan Murphy and his wife Linsay, Michael, Alyssa, Blake, Courtney, Luke and Emily Johnson, Alexander Pratt and Erin Duffy, 4 great grandchildren; Morgan, Jack and Logan Mottram and Bronwyn Murphy, 2 brothers; Rev. Ernest B. Johnson of E. Sandwich, Robert Johnson of Westford, his sister; Lorraine Small and her husband Howard of S. Yarmouth, sisters-in-law; Blanche Johnson of Wiscasset, ME, Sandra Cotton of Spring Hill, FL, Audrey Larssen of Berlin, MA, and Carolyn Larssen of NH, brothers-in-law; William Larssen of Spring Hill, FL, Robert Larssen and his wife Barbara of Colebrook, NH, and Laurence Larssen and his wife Iris of Chelmsford, as well as many nieces and nephews. He was also the brother of the late Rev. Stanley F. Johnson

Visiting hours will be held at the BLAKE FUNERAL HOME, 24 Worthen St. CHELMSFORD on Tuesday from 4-8 pm. His Funeral Service will be held Wednesday at 11 o’clock at the Carlisle Congregational Church, 147 School St. Carlisle, MA. PLEASE MEET AT CHURCH. Interment in Pine Ridge Cemetery, Chelmsford. Memorial Contributions can be made to the Carlisle Congregational Church.