NEWARK: A funeral service for Dwight â??Abyâ? Johnson, 74 of Nashport will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday, April 15, 2010 in the Newark Chapel of Vensil-Orr & Chute Funeral Home with Rev. Dr. John C. Minihan officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery, Fresno, Ohio.

Born May 13, 1935 in Newark to the late Dwight A. and Marjorie E. (Crooks) Johnson. Mr. Johnson graduated from Newark High School in 1953 and attended Marietta College, Miami University and The Ohio State University. He was a member of Delta Upsilon Social Fraternity and Pi Kappa Delta Forensics Honorary Fraternity. Mr. Johnson served his country in the U. S. Army, Corps of Engineers and the XX Corps Reserves.

Mr. Johnson was a contributor to the Cleveland Plain Dealer and Time Magazine during the 1963-1965 Mt. Gilead oil boom. He was a founding trustee of the Association of Data Communications Users and a published author of several articles about data communications in trade and professional journals. He also authored a History of Camp Falling Rock and a history of Boy Scouting in Licking County. He was active for many years in Boy Scouts of America, having received the Eagle Scout rank in 1952 and the Silver Beaver Award in 2007. In 2008, he was elected to the Vigil Honor in Order of the Arrow. He also served as a trustee for the Rock Foundation.

Survivors include his wife of 45 years, Jane (Hodges) Johnson; three nephews, Scott (Kim Johnson of Nashville, TN., Trent (Shelly) Johnson of Franklin, TN., and Kirk (Merry) Johnson of Cookville, TN.; and six grand nephews and nieces.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a brother, Richard P. Johnson and a nephew, Chris C. Johnson.

Friends and family may visit 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 14, 2010 at the Vensil-Orr & Chute Funeral Home, 1850 W. Main Street, Newark.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Rock Foundation (Benefiting Camp Falling Rock) 2025, North Street, NW, Granville, OH 43023.