Frank "Phil" Phillip Johnson, 87

CHESWOLD - Frank "Phil" Phillip Johnson of Cheswold died peacefully in his sleep July 8, 2007, after a short illness. He was 87.

Mr. Johnson was born on July 7, 1920, in Commack, N.Y., the oldest of four children to John Arvid and Wilhelmina Stoothof Johnson.

Farming was in his blood and he tilled the land for almost 60 years, first working on his father"s farm then his own in Long Island before moving to Delaware and operating his own potato farm from the early 1950s to the 1970s. He and his wife owned and operated a potato farm under the name of Diamond J. located between Cheswold and Kenton.

Mr. Johnson was a businessman as well as a farmer and when growing potatoes was not profitable he, his wife and his life long foreman Rayfield Merkson, began operating a truck farming business, providing fresh produce to local markets.

He and a group of farmers of "Delaware Farmers United" flew to eight foreign countries including the USSR in the early 1960s on a people-to people travel mission.

Mr. Johnson was a charter member of the Kenton Ruritans International.

His home and farm were a gathering place for family, neighbors and friends from across the United States. Children and adults learned to swim in his pool; play cards; drive a tractor and farm truck and had their first taste of roasted pig while attending the weekend-long Labor Day parties.

Mr. and Mrs. Johnson shared an interest in attending auction sales and refurbishing antiques, restoring thousands of pieces over the years, and he enjoyed canning and was a master. His other hobbies included coin collecting, commemorative stamp collecting, reading, doing word puzzles and watching ball games with his eyes shut. When asked what the score was, he could always tell you.

Mr. and Mrs. Johnson traveled throughout the United States and into Europe; played many a card game and generously gave of themselves to their community. After the death of his wife, Mr. Johnson took many trips to New England to visit his granddaughter, Sandra, traveling to Texas and Florida. He taught people the importance of a good meal, an afternoon nap and how to enjoy companionship without having to leave home.

He was generous with his wealth and made many donations to nonprofit agencies. He and his wife donated an organ to the Kenton Methodist Church.

Mr. Johnson will be remembered as a beloved father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

He was preceded in death in 1983 by his loving wife of 47 years, Helen Dorothy "Girlie" Beneke Johnson.

He is survived by his devoted daughters, Karol A. Johnson Collins and her husband, Earl L. Collins of Dover; and Phyllis J. Johnson of Tampa, Fla.; two loving granddaughters, Sandra A. Collins and her husband, Allen H. Agnitti of Springfield, Mass. and Amy B. Collins of Dover; two special great-grandsons, Alexander H. Agnitti and Marcello E. Agnitti, both of Springfield; a special and caring nephew, Jeffery Ulrich and his wife, Ann of Clayton; Gloria Bennett, the daughter of his business partner and always considered as part of the family, of Jacksonville, Fla.

A sister, Marian Wallsten and her husband, Bill of Allentown, N.J.; and two brothers, John Arvid Jr. and his wife, Louise and Arthur Wilbur and his wife Marian, all of Orefield, Pa.

Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday in Faries Funeral Chapel, 29 S. Main St., Smyrna.

Services will be 1 p.m. Friday in the funeral home, where friends may call one hour earlier.

Burial will be in Odd Fellows Cemetery, Smyrna.