Seaside, Oregon - Paul Fletcher Johnson Obituary

Seaside

May 1, 1944 - April 16, 2025

Paul Fletcher "Fletch" Johnson, 80, passed away peacefully at Neawanna By The Sea in Seaside, Oregon on Wednesday, April 16th.

Born in Astoria on May 1, 1944, he is the son of the late Robert William Johnson and Edith Ingeborg (Larson) Johnson.

Fletch was raised on a dairy farm in Lewis and Clark. He attended Lewis and Clark Elementary School and Astoria High School, where he graduated in 1962. He went on to study Business/Agriculture at Oregon State University, where he was involved in the Air Force ROTC program. Fletch graduated from OSU in 1967.

Fletch married Karin Lee Mingle on July 8, 1967, and they were married for 57 years.

Fletch was commissioned in 1967 as a Second Lieutenant in the US Air Force. During his military service, he was promoted to First Lieutenant, and then to Captain. Fletch initially pursued flight school in the Air Force, but then pivoted to being a Finance Officer. While in the Air Force, he served at bases in Arizona, Texas, New York, Greenland, and Colorado.

After completing his military service, Fletch worked for OPS Blue Shield in Portland OR, Ag-Bag in Astoria OR, and then he purchased Goody Candy Company, a candy vending business, which he owned and operated until it was sold in 1990.

He enjoyed woodworking, being a handyman, doing creative things with his hands, and singing in church choirs. Fletch and Karin were active members with the Astoria Lions Club and VASA. They were also competitive in cards, playing both Pinochle and Bridge. More recently, they enjoyed weekly Scrabble games, and riding their trike-bikes for exercise on the Seaside Prom or around the golf course in Gearhart. Fletch was a devoted Beavers fan, and cherished the time he could spend with his brother, Dave, attending Beaver football games.

Fletch is survived by his loving wife, Karin; his daughter and son-in-law, Michelle Johnson and Robert Edwards; daughter and son-in-law, Nicolle and Monte Landwehr; his grandson, Max Cohen; his sister and brother-in-law, Sara and Jerry Barton; his niece, Lisa Sigler; his nephew, Mark Johnson; and his sisters-in-law, Barbara Swanson and Linda Hobbs. His loved ones will remember him for his sense of humor and his sweet demeanor. He will be missed by all who knew him.

Fletch was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Robert Dennis Johnson and David William Johnson.

A celebration of life will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. May 17 at the Barbey Maritime Center, 2042 Marine Drive, Astoria, OR 97103.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Astoria High School Scholarship, Inc. at AHSSI Donations, P.O. Box 598, Astoria, OR 97103 (https://astoriascholarshipfund.org)

Hughes-Ransom Mortuary is in charge of the arrangements.