Marvin Johnson

Dr. Marvin Merrill Johnson, the inventive mind behind many petrochemical technologies, has died at 88. He's gone to receive further enlightenment from the ultimate inventor and to take his place among the consummate seekers of truth. He is home now with scientists who have gone before, and they're teaching him the mysteries of the universe he couldn't learn in this life. He has transferred from one state of matter to another and is undoubtedly fascinated by the particular mechanics of this spiritual transfer. As a boy, Marvin was described as "a little different"; a boy who always asked, "Why?"; and as a man in a hurry to be useful. He had little patience for pithy platitudes and trite axioms of ancillary importance. He was equally comfortable among Fortune 500 CEOs and science fair participants, but happiest in his garden and in the company of his grandchildren and dogs. Marvin delighted in Scandinavian simplicity and was proud to be a Danish and Swedish Johnson. He had little need for things or possessions beyond 501 Levis, comfortable penny loafers, white tube socks, and a button-down shirt with a mechanical pencil in the front pocket. He lived an extraordinary life as an intelligent, admired, and humble man. Born March 21, 1928 to John Ivan and Hildur Elizabeth Johnson in Salt Lake City, Utah, he was the sixth of seven children (four boys and three girls). He graduated with dual degrees in Chemical Engineering and Chemistry from the University of Utah, 1945 - 1950, and was a member of both Owl & Key and Phi Kappa Phi Honor Societies. He was also a member of Sigma Chi fraternity. He married his sweetheart, Marilyn White, on May 8th, 1951 in the Salt Lake City Temple. In 1956, he completed his PhD at the University of Utah in Chemical Engineering. He accepted employment with Phillips Petroleum Company and moved his family to Bartlesville, OK where he remained employed until 2002. He was a prolific inventor and earned over 280 patents, primarily in the refining area, during his distinguished career. He received numerous awards and honors, including the following: emeritus status at Phillips 66, the National Medal of Technology from President Ronald Reagan in 1985, Industrial Research Institute Achievement Award, P66 Shield Award, American Chemical Society Recognition, and was a member of the National Academy of Engineers and the Society of Professional Engineers. He was the first person to achieve the status of Research Fellow at Phillips Petroleum. He was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, where he served reluctantly but effectively in many roles, including in the children's nursery (his favorite), as the Scoutmaster for Troop 101, and as a High Priest. His true calling, however, was serving those in need. He spent extensive hours helping fix homes, cars, and the lives of those he encountered. Marvin made the world better with his knowledge, and he was always eager to share of his wealth of information. He loved his dogs, his family, gardening, and baseball (not necessarily in that order). He spent many years teaching his kids and grandkids (as well as many others) baseball, swimming, fishing, camping, auto-mechanics, and scouting. He was called "Uncle Marvin" by many, and Papa by those closest to him. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Marilyn, of Bartlesville, OK, and four children-son Mark (Barbara) Johnson of Portland, OR; daughter Jennifer (Ross) Hanseen, of Salt Lake City, UT; daughter Lori (Jeff) Ahlert of Bartlesville, OK; and daughter Marianne (Mark) Egan of Houston, TX. He is also survived by sister Joyce Taylor and brother Franklyn D. Johnson, both of Salt Lake City, UT. He is survived by twenty-one grandchildren, thirty-one great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, and three dogs. He was preceded in death by both his parents and his four siblings: Genevieve Knudsen Gowan, LaVerne Briggs, Clifton Ivan Johnson, and Glendon Elwood Johnson. In lieu of flowers, the family has created the Marvin M. Johnson Engineering Memorial Scholarship to honor his memory, through the Tri County Technology Foundation. Online donations will be accepted by visiting www.tctcgiving.org or by contacting Lisa Geresi at 918-331-3275. Donations may also be made to the Perpetual Education Fund of the LDS Church.

Visitation Details

Tuesday, March 14th, 2017 9:00am - 8:00pm, Arnold Moore & Neekamp Funeral Home

Service Details

Wednesday, March 15th, 2017 10:00am, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Bartlesville

Interment Details

Memorial Park Cemetery Bartlesville