STOW - Howard B. Johnson PhD, 90, passed away peacefully August 4, 2026. He was born April 27, 1936, in Willits, CA, and was the only child of the late Brand and Margaret Johnson.

Growing up in Petaluma, CA, Howard developed the intellect, curiosity, work ethic and the love of travel and care that would last his whole life. He often recalled the mischievous pranks he and his fraternity brothers pulled while at the College of the Pacific as he was earning his B.S. in Chemistry. Howard fondly remembered the valuable lessons he learned as a teaching assistant (and how cold it was compared to California!) while at the University of Minnesota, where he earned his M.S. in Physical Chemistry. He was very proud to earn his PhD in Ceramic Engineering from the University of Utah, and this was just the beginning of his long and distinguished career.

Howard went on to publish and present numerous research papers, as well as receive multiple patents. He was a member of several professional societies, including the American Ceramic Society, the American Chemical Society, Sigma Xi, TMS, ISS, and NICE. Howard was honored to be recognized as a Fellow by the American Ceramic Society in 1998. He retired as a VP-Technical Director from CCPI Inc. in 2002.

His work gave him the opportunity to travel the world, and as often as he could, he would bring his wife, Kathryn, with him. He especially liked traveling to Germany, where his interest in fine cars, beer, and WWII converged. More than once, he brought a car home with him, as if this was a normal European souvenir.

The love of this life and his partner of 64 years is his wife, Kathryn. Together, they raised four children, providing a good life and a solid foundation from which to explore and experience the world confidently. He was proud of the lives his children and grandchildren were building and the people they turned out to be. Howard was an honorable man who always had a good pen and handkerchief handy. He will be greatly missed.

Howard is survived by his wife, Kathryn; children Mark (Rie) Johnson, Christine (Dave) Graff, Terry (Lori) Johnson, ,David (Sue) Johnson; nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren with another arriving this fall.

A private interment will be held at Holy Cross Cemetery 100 E. Waterloo Rd, Akron, OH 44319.

Should friends desire, memorials may be made to either St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 5010 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or Heartland Hospice, 231 Springside Dr., #140, Akron, OH 44333.