Gilbert Johnson

Gilbert Randolph Johnson passed away on April 24, 2024 in Catonsville, Maryland, at the age of 75. He is survived by his wife Donna, children Gary (Terrie), Carlos (Michelle), Danielle (James), Jocelyn (Andre), Maya, Cortina and step-son, Kai, sisters Mary Catherine (Thomas) and Elaine, grandchildren Lauren, Devyn, Christian, Kailah and Joseph, and a host of other grandchildren, great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Walter Wilson and Ella Mae Johnson, adopted parents Pete and Francis Randolph, brothers Walter Jr. "Woody" and Leonard, sisters Idella, Ella Mae (Renee), Gertrude (James), Anna (Pete), and Myrtle (James), adopted sisters Margaret, Kate (Frank), and brothers Arthur and Mitchell.

Gilbert was born on March 5, 1949, in Gaithersburg, Maryland and graduated from Damascus High School in 1968. He worked as a Printer Circuit Board Designer early in his professional career - his older children fondly remember the days when he sat working at his light table - and then became a Custodial Engineer for Montgomery County Public Schools. He was a man of few words but whatever came out was bound to be comical. He was a caring and hard working man who absolutely loved his family. Saturday morning breakfast was always an event with fried apples, fried potatoes, pancakes with extra crispy edges, sausages and scrambled eggs. He was a great dad who loved spending time with his kids whether it was going for walks with a little girl on each shoulder, eating cold sliced pears straight out of the can or chocolate chip ice cream with pound cake, going to feed the ducks, visiting aunts, uncles, cousins and other relatives and friends or just tickling you with his beard and mustache with a kiss on the cheek. He was famous for wearing his kufi hats, especially the white one with the black stripe, always having a toothpick in his mouth and his sweet tooth. Later in life, he enjoyed jazz on 105.9 or 89.3 FM, working with his hands, rocking flannel shirts and watching his Westerns on MeTV.

We will celebrate his home going the way he always wanted with a memorial cook out hosted by nephew Spencer Johnson on Saturday, May 25th at 2:00pm.