Otis Melvin Johnson Jr.

Otis Melvin Johnson, Jr., aged 85, died on May 25, 2025, in Sebring, FL. He was born on October 25, 1939, in Charlottesville, VA. He was the son of Otis Melvin Johnson, Sr. and Ola Maud Collier. Otis graduated from Lane High School in 1958.

Otis lived in Charlottesville until he joined the United States Air Force (USAF) where he continued his education, becoming an X-Ray Technician. After completing his time there, he began what would become his life‘s work in aviation. He worked for Horizon Aviation, Eagle Aviation, and Cardinal Airlines before being hired by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as an Aviation Safety Inspector. Between the USAF and the FAA, he completed over 2200 hours of education. In 1989, he was promoted by the FAA Air Carrier Division to Baltimore Flight Standards District Manager.

Otis retired in 1994, with 35 years of service to the US government and served as a flight instructor and aviation consultant. He worked in China, teaching them how the U.S. certified pilots, airlines, and FAA inspectors. He travelled many places, but had always loved his home in Florida, and his many friends here.

Otis was preceded in death by his parents and is survived by his wife, Sandra Taylor Marshall Johnson of Sebring, Florida and Charlottesville, Virginia; his son Otis Michael Johnson (Carolyn); his daughter Jennifer Johnson Craddock (Jay); and his stepdaughters Cindy Marshall McVey (Mark) and Lynn Marshall Dunn (Jack). He was blessed with three grandchildren: Rebecca, Faith, and Joseph; his step-grandchildren Taryn (Andy), Ryan, Wesley (Gabi), and Paige (Andy); a step-great-granddaughter Daphne, and a step-great-grandson expected this fall.

The memorial service for Otis will be held Saturday, June 21, 2025, at Spring Lake Presbyterian Church at 1:00pm, with pastors John and Harriet Davis officiating. The address for the memorial service will be linked down below.

Arrangements entrusted to:
Stephenson-Nelson Funeral Home