MSgt Ernest Lee Johnson, USAF (Ret.), 73, of Youngstown, passed at 2:03 p.m. Friday, March 20, 2026 at Cleveland Clinic following an extended illness.

He was born April 4, 1952, in Chillicothe, to the late Ernest Jr. and Flora Hallett Johnson.  On June 20, 1992, he married the former Joyce Barrows who survives.

In addition to his wife, surviving are a daughter, Jessica Johnson, of Delaware, OH and Amanda (Amber) Willis, of Boardman, OH; a son, Jeremy (Katie) Barrows, of Chillicothe; grandchildren, Avyana Barrows, Hendrix Barrows, Xyla Barrows; a brother, Thomas Johnson, of Chillicothe, OH; sisters, Patricia Kerns, of Chillicothe, OH and Kathy (Paul) Holloway, of Chillicothe, OH; and numerous nieces and nephews.  In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a brother-in-law, John Kerns and sister-in-law, Carol Johnson.

Ernie was a 1970 graduate of Chillicothe High School.  He enlisted in 1971 in the United States Air Force and was a veteran of the Vietnam War.  Ernie was honorably discharged from the Air Force in 1973.  He worked in Chillicothe at McAllister's Chevrolet and had also owned and operated Johnson's Complete Auto Repair until 1982.  He then joined the Air Force Reserve's 907th Airlift Group at Rickenbacker Air Force Base.  Ernie's active duty status was reinstated in 1990 and he was deployed to Saudi Arabia where he served in Desert Storm.  He remained in the United States Air Force Reserves having been deployed numerous times to the Middle East until he retired in 2012.  Ernie was an avid bowler, was a member of the Vietnam Veterans Motorcycle Club and enjoyed drag racing his 1967 Chevelle.

A public visitation for family and friends will be held at the WARE FUNERAL HOME from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 1, 2026.  A private funeral will be held at the WARE FUNERAL HOME for family.  Burial will be held in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to your favorite veteran's charity.

You may sign his online register at warefh.com