Larry Edward Johnson

Larry Edward Johnson, 76, of Kannapolis, went home to meet his Lord on May 31, 2025. Larry died peacefully at home surrounded by his family. Born on February 3, 1949, Larry was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Vickie Wilhelm Johnson, his mother, Mildred Aycoth Mobley, sister Joyce Hooper, and brother Jimmy Johnson. Larry retired from Noranda after serving for 25 years at its Salisbury, NC plant. Before that, he worked for Cannon Mills Company in the Kannapolis, NC Bleachery Department for 23 years. He also volunteered at A.L. Brown High School as concessions manager, serving thousands of A.L. Brown sports fans through many years. There was nothing he loved more than a Friday night football game in Kannapolis Memorial Stadium, and he continued listening to them on AM radio after he was no longer able to attend in person. In his spare time, Larry loved fishing, making many trips to High Rock Lake and Harker’s Island, NC with his beloved Carolina Skiff boat.

Larry is survived by sister Debbie Paxton (Danny), his daughters, Brandi Childers and Bretta Dodson (Joel), and grandchildren Braylee (Samuel) and Riley. Larry, affectionately called “Poppy” by those closest to him, loved spending time with his grandchildren more than anything in the world. He was so proud to attend Braylee’s graduation from Appalachian State, see her enter the workforce, and get to know her fiancé, Samuel, and offer them advice as they purchased their first home together earlier this year. Poppy loved nothing more than sleepovers with Riley, watching in amazement as he built his own computer, and teaching him how to use his zero-turn mower and offering advice in the planning of Riley’s (future) lawncare business. Braylee and Riley hold treasured memories of trips for happy meals with Poppy, and more recently, watching Riley out-eat his Poppy! Perhaps most of all, we will miss our weekly family dinner nights where Poppy kept us on our toes and we were never quite sure what shenanigans he’d have up his sleeve for the evening, but it was always entertaining!

The family will receive friends on Tuesday from 1:00 to 1:45 at Whitley’s Funeral Home. A graveside service will follow at Westlawn Memorial Park in China Grove at 2:00 PM with Rev. John Futterer officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in Larry’s memory be made to Hospice and Palliative Care of Cabarrus County, 5003 Hospice Ln, Kannapolis, NC 28081.

Online condolences may be left at www.whitleysfuneralhome.com.