John "Bo" Whitmore Johnson

John “Bo” Whitmore Johnson, 67, of Columbia, South Carolina, passed away on Friday, August 17, 2018 following a courageous campaign with pancreatic cancer. He was born on December 4, 1950 in Rock Hill, South Carolina to Ernest and Henrietta Johnson. Bo was a graduate of Lower Richland High School and Midlands Technical College. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and enjoyed his time in Germany while stationed at a Nike Hercules missile site in Dexheim. He was later employed by Westinghouse Corporation where he retired in 2016 after over 30 years of dedicated service. Bo appreciated good music, was an avid World War II enthusiast, and held a great fondness for bluebirds. Among his many hobbies, he enjoyed fishing, model making, and watching historical documentaries. He could often be found tinkering around the house, working in his asparagus garden, or catching a rainbow with his grandchildren. He loved spending time with family and friends, especially his grandchildren. Bo never met a stranger and was always willing to lend a helping hand. Many have said that the mold was thrown away after making Bo—he was definitely one of a kind. He did things his own way, and everyone has a “Bo story” to tell. Bo is survived by his wife, Della Knight Johnson; his 2 sons, Jesse Magee Johnson (Diane) and Slade Kiev Johnson; 2 brothers, David Johnson and Ray Johnson; a sister, Donna Brumfield; 2 grandchildren, Lydia and Alex Johnson; and numerous nieces and nephews. Bo was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Patricia Dailey; and his daughter, Daphne Johnson. The family will receive friends for a visitation at Thompson Funeral Home at Greenlawn Memorial Park on Wednesday, August 22, 2018 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Funeral Services will be held in the chapel of Thompson Funeral Home at Greenlawn Memorial Park on Thursday, August 23, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. If preferred, in lieu of flowers, you may choose to either donate a bluebird box to the family or make a charitable donation in Bo’s memory to the North American Bluebird Society at www.nabluebirdsociety.org.