Bob was a man of simple tastes and multiple talents. He wasn't big on social gatherings, but when he did show up, he was the life of the party. Some people called him "frugal."

He was known to be a good cook, which was fortunate because he was also known to not be inclined to spend much money on dates. And he wasn't sought after by GQ; his preferred clothing was tennis attire.

"He wasn't a suit and tie type of guy," laughed his son Daron, recalling the memory of his father being perennially dressed to head for the courts. But when he did don a suit and tie, there were few men who looked better.

Although football had been his sport of choice in high school, throughout his life he played tennis. It became his passion and he was good at it. He played all-comers, and even coached a bit.

His athletic skill in high school earned him a college football scholarship, but he chose to join the Army and become a paratrooper. He served in the elite 82nd Airborne Division during the Vietnam War era.

A CHOSEN PATH

Elijah Robert Johnson, the son of Jessie Dale and Maggie Sue Bell, was born December 6, 1942, in East St. Louis, Illinois.

Bob, which is what everybody called him, attended public school in District #189 and graduated from East St. Louis Senior High School in 1961. He married his high school sweetheart, Doris Goins. Although the marriage was brief, they were blessed with their son, Daron.

After his discharge from the Army, Bob earned a degree in criminal justice at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. He pursued a career in the insurance industry and retired from New York Life Insurance.

Bob spent much of his retirement on tennis courts across St. Louis. And, of course, he had more time to fix a pot of spaghetti while listening to some smooth jazz or some thumping old school.

ALWAYS IN OUR HEARTS

Bob died December 12, 2019, at VA St. Louis Health Care System (Jefferson Barracks Hospital) of cancer. He was six days past his 77th birthday. He was preceded in death by his parents and two siblings, Leroy Bell and Delores Holman.

Bob's memory will forever be cherished by his son, Daron Johnson and daughter-in-law Khadijah Johnson; his brothers and sisters, Isaiah Johnson, Elese Dillard, Brizell Harmon, Jessie Dale Wade, and Deborah Bell; along with a loving throng of nieces, nephews, and cousins.