Richard E. “Rick” Johnson, 69, of Wilmington, DE, passed away peacefully on Friday, June 5, 2026, after a courageous 86-day battle with a recently diagnosed auto-immune disease.
A lifelong learner and problem-solver, Rick graduated from Sycamore High School in Cincinnati, OH, in 1974, and went on to earn his BS in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University in 1978. His career as an engineer took him from Ohio to Texas and eventually to Delaware, where he worked at several local companies, including Hercules Inc., Delmarva Power/Conectiv Energy, W.L. Gore, Mannington Mills, and Lubrizol, from which he retired at the end of 2024.
At Celanese Chemical Company in Pampa, TX, fate brought him together with Debbra Duke, who would become his wife and lifelong partner. They married in 1983 and soon settled in Wilmington, DE—a city they called home for decades. Rick was the quiet, steadfast supporter and assistant behind Deb’s many creative and philanthropic endeavors, whether it was community theatre, her youth performance troupe The Imagination Players, or local volunteer work with the Delaware Jaycees and Big Brothers/Big Sisters.
Rick had a way of turning life’s little routines into joy. He loved making lists of lists, leaving way too early for “just in case” traffic, and cheering wholeheartedly—whether for his beloved Cincinnati Reds, his adopted Philadelphia Phillies, or any of Deb’s productions. He found simple pleasures in playing softball, enjoying golf with former colleagues, working on the lawn or in his garden, walking the dogs, attending concerts and theatre performances, and traveling to see and experience new places. He had looked forward to retirement with plans to fix up his home and experience additional travel adventures.
Rick’s warmth, humor, and unwavering support will be remembered by all who knew him. He is survived by his loving wife of 43 years, Deb; his sisters Marjorie Phillips (Tom) of St. John’s, FL, and Robin Johnson (Rod) of Gold River, CA; his brothers Don Johnson (Tu) of Gaithersburg, MD, Doug Johnson (Kathy) of Kernersville, NC, and Brian Johnson (Jessica) of Stockholm, Sweden; nieces and nephews—Chloe, Nathan, Justin, Ariya, Kameron, and Sean, and great-nephews, Henry and Julian. He was preceded in death by his beloved parents, Richard E. Johnson, Sr. (2002), and Beverly P. Johnson (2020).
A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 27, 2026, at McCrery & Harra Funeral Home, 3710 Kirkwood Highway, Wilmington, DE 19808. Visitation begins at 1:00 PM, with the service at 2:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Rick’s memory to The Imagination Players (P.O. Box 4335, Greenville, DE 19807) or Faithful Friends Animal Society (165 Airport Rd., New Castle, DE 19720).
Rick’s life was a testament to quiet devotion, boundless curiosity, and a love for both adventure and routine. He made the world brighter simply by being in it – and as was his way departing way too early in case of traffic.
For online condolences please visit: mccreryandharra.com
