Charles Otis Johnson, Sr., 81, transitioned to eternity September 18, 2019. He was born December 15, 1937 to the late Mrs. Christine Johnson Tyson and Willie Ross.

Charles was a dedicated Family Man. He accepted Christ as his Savior at an early age having been nurtured in the Spirit at First Emmanuel Baptist Church in High Point, NC. Charles later joined St. Matthews C.M.E. Church in High Point. He was a member of Central Christian Church in Las Vegas, NV. Charles was the oldest son of twenty siblings and truly loved and respected his family. Charles enjoyed life and shared years of special, fun times with family and friends around the world. He was a kind and generous person. He always treated family and friends like royalty whenever anyone visited him in California and Las Vegas. He visited his family in North Carolina at least three times a year until his health would not allow him. Charles was preceded in death by his parents and 12 siblings.

Charles was a proud 1956 graduate of The Famed William Penn High School where he played football. Charles joined The United States Navy immediately upon graduating from high school and served 20 years with Honor. He was a skilled aircraft mechanic, and in his last years of service, he served on the nuclear aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN-65), nicknamed the “Big E”. Upon retiring from the Navy, he became employed with United Airlines and worked 20 years as an aircraft mechanic.

While raising his 3 children in California with his former wife of 38 years, Marjorie, Charles was deeply involved in their children’s lives. He coached some of his sons’ Football and Little League Baseball teams. Charles was a big supporter of Little League Baseball, being the head umpire for the city’s Little League and a highly requested District Umpire which had him traveling to games all over the San Francisco Bay Area. In addition to the kids’ sports, he also spent years as a member of their high school’s Booster Club.

Later when Charles became a grandfather, his two granddaughters became the joys of his life. He was instrumental in helping raise them when they were young.

In his later years, Charles lived in Las Vegas. For over 20 years he enjoyed his retirement with his spouse Shellé. He treated Shellé’s children, Tony, Erin, Sam, Eric & Kelle like they were his own, and he was loved and respected by them. This was especially true of Shellé’s two youngest children, Eric & Kelle, as he helped to raise them.

Two of Charles’ greatest joys was going out dancing, which he said was his exercise, and listening to live music at the clubs. He had many friends that were Las Vegas entertainers and they would marvel at Charles, “the Dancing Man”!

Charles loved traveling. He loved visiting family and friends and sports events all over the US. With ten grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, combined with his nine step grandchildren, he had quite the family and is leaving an incredible legacy.

His hobbies were traveling with family and building model ships and aircrafts. He was a proud member of The Pointers’ Club in High Point, NC and attended Pointers’ Reunions. During the Fall and Winter months, he loved watching football, especially his beloved Oakland Raiders. He had been a Raiders fan from the moment the team was established in the 1960s. He loved life to the fullest and cherished every day!

Charles leaves to cherish loving memories: current spouse of 20 years, Shellé Gugliuzza; former wife of 38 years, Marjorie Christopher Johnson (mother of his children); three sons, Charles, Jr. (Marilou) Johnson of Brentwood, CA; Carl (Julianne) Johnson of University Place, WA; and Michael (Jerri) Johnson of New Rochelle, NY; ten grandchildren, Ashley (Justin) McCain of Renton, WA; Vanessa Johnson of San Jose, CA; Ellis Johnson, Garrett Johnson, Brooke Johnson of University Place, WA; Angelica Johnson, Aiyana Johnson, Alena Johnson of Brentwood, CA; Zarya Shick-Johnson, Watson Shick-Johnson of New Rochelle, NY; two great grandchildren, Roman Castaneda and Marley McCain; Shellé’s children; Anthony Gugliuzza and Eric Gugliuzza (Megan) of Las Vegas; Erin Gugliuzza, Sam Gugliuzza (Lindsay) and Kelle Gugliuzza of Lockport, NY; Shellé’s grandchildren, Ray Allen Payne and Mariah-Lee Payne of Las Vegas, NV; three brothers, Luther Johnson, Sr., Ronald Tyson, and Troy (Carol) Anthony of High Point; six sisters, Ella (James) Shelton of Westville, NJ; Dr. Gwendolyn (Rev. Bobby) Green, Doris (Jimmie) Byers of High Point, NC; Debbie Davis of Sneads Ferry, NC; Cheryl Tyson (Richard), and Rev. Jewel Anthony of High Point, NC; sisters-in-law; brothers-in-law; aunts, nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Funeral service will be held at First Emmanuel Baptist Church, 833 Leonard Avenue at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 5, 2019. The family will receive friends at the church from 1:30 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. Interment will be at Salisbury National Cemetery, 501 Statesville Blvd. at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, October 7, 2019. The Family will receive friends at Jackie’s Place Event Center, 607 E. Washington Dr., High Point, NC Friday, October 4, 2019 from 4:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.

Final arrangements are entrusted to Phillips Funeral Service, Inc.