Hope Johnson

NORMAN (HOPE) M. JOHNSON of Bel Air died on Friday, March 25th at Mariner Health of Forest Hill. He was 86.

Born in Madonna, Maryland, on April 19, 1918, he was the son of the late Henry A. Johnson and Katherine Victoria Markline Johnson.

He attended Jarrettsville Elementary and High Schools and Harford Community College.

He was a member of the Bel Air Lions Club, the American Legion, the Handyman’s Club and the National Rose Society.

He served in the Army in WWII with the M.P. Companies. He entered Utah Beach on D Day +5 and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. After returning home, he was service manager for Central Motors Car Dealership, now Plaza Ford, in Bel Air. His dream was to open a bowling alley. In 1960, he was one of five men that built the Bel Air Bowl, later owning the establishment from which he retired in 1985. The bowling alley originally had 25 lanes and later added 15 to make a total of 40 lanes. He was a member of the National Bowling Proprietors Association, serving as vice president for two years and president of the Maryland Bowling Association for 12 years.

After retiring, he and his wife enjoyed traveling to all 50 states and Europe. He also enjoyed making furniture, raising roses, and playing golf.

Mr. Johnson is survived by his wife of 58 years, Mary Lee Stanley Johnson; a son, Carl M. Johnson of Bel Air; two sisters, Lena J. Edwards of Oak Crest Village and Helen Mae Houck of Lineboro; and two step-grandsons, Daniel Edel of Bel Air and Christopher Edel of Eugene, Oregon.

Pallbearers were: Kenneth Gundling, Wilson Batzer, Norman Amrein, Bud Burton, Timothy Sullivan, Daniel Regan, and Christopher Osik, Dean Wilding.

Contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 800 Wyman Park Drive, Suiate 110, Baltimore, MD 21211.