VENICE, Fla. - Robert E. Johnson, 83, of Venice, passed away on Dec. 23, 2013, at his residence. He was born Aug. 17, 1930, in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, the son of the late Clarence and Irene (Garno) Johnson. He attended St. Johnsbury Academy and graduated in the class of 1948. He entered the U.S. Navy on March 13, 1951, in Springfield, Massachusetts, and was honorably discharged on March 3, 1955. On May 20, 1951, he married Lorraine Mae Atkins in Hardwick, Vermont. He was employed as a mail clerk for the United States Postal Service. He retired in the early 1990s. He was a member of the Green Mountain Club and FMCA Green Mountain Chapter, both in Vermont. He was also a member of Tin Can Sailors Squadron and American Legion Post 159, both in Venice. He loved the time that he spent with his family. He enjoyed kayaking, biking, traveling and visiting with friends. He will be remembered as the man who could strike up a conversation with a stranger and end the conversation with a new friend. Survivors include: the love of his life wife, Lorraine; a daughter, Sandra Johnson-Long (Aiken), and her husband, Tim, of Barnet, Vermont; two sisters, Connie Corliss, of Queensbury, New York, and Dawn Chandler, of Phoenix; two loving grandchildren, Natasha Long and Tristan Long; two great-grandchildren, Raven West and Kaileigh West; as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, May 22, 2014, at the Northern Vermont Funeral Home, 60 Elm St., Hardwick, with the Rev. Deborah Adams of the United Church of Hardwick officiating. Burial with military honors will follow in the Fairview Cemetery in Hardwick. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital , P.O. Box 1893, Memphis, TN 38101-9950.