Carl R. Johnson

LOUDONVILLE - It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Carl R. Johnson, who left us peacefully on October 6, 2024, at the age of 80, after a long illness. Carl was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend.

Carl’s integrity, leadership, and dedication to helping others were evident from his early years. As a member of the Boy Scouts of America, he attained the rank of Eagle Scout. Upon graduating with a bachelor’s degree in economics from Bates College in 1967, Carl went to Officer Candidate School. He then served as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army, heading a tank platoon in Germany from 1967-1969. 

Carl brought those same values to his lifelong career in the printing industry. He spent 37 years working alongside his family, serving as a senior sales and operations executive at Boyd Printing Company in Albany, New York.

But Carl was more than just a kind and principled man. He also valued a good time and spending time with friends and family. His biggest complaint about his college years—aside from the Maine winters—was the overly serious nature of his school environment. (He would probably have had the same criticism of this obituary!). This led him to take frequent trips away from campus, often to Boston, where he met and courted his life-long companion and wife Lynn. He lightened up every social gathering with his humor, his dad jokes, and his wit. Even his famous army stories had a tendency to veer away from strict regimental discipline. They were just as likely to feature delightful digressions into visits of German castles and enjoying the local foods, wine, and beer he and Lynn sampled during their stay in Germany as any military matters.

In later years, Carl enjoyed the communal pleasures of good food and drink in picturesque places much closer to home. He loved spending time at his lake house with his wife, family, and friends where they could all pass the days together fishing, picnicking by the lake, and walking in nature with his dogs. 

He cherished his family deeply and leaves behind his wife of 57 years, Lynn Quellmalz Johnson and their children Marcus (Catherine) Johnson and Kathryn (Clayton, II) Koonce. Pops, as he was affectionately known, is also survived by his four beloved grandchildren Clayton III, Abby, Sawyer, and Millie.

A private family celebration of life will take place at a later date and time. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Mercy Ships, a charity both Lynn and Carl find deeply meaningful, as it provides essential medical care to those in need around the world.

To leave a special message for the family online, visit NewComerAlbany.com