Raymond A. Johnson II, 80, died Wednesday at the Passavant Retirement Community in Zelienople following a long battle with Alzheimer's disease.

He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Carol (Spiegelberg) Johnson; his son, Scott and his wife, Jill; one granddaughter, Emily, as well as another grandchild expected in June; two sisters, Ann Hofius of Hermitage and Miriam Weaver of Elverson, Pa.; and many other family and close friends.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Miriam R. Johnson, and his father, Raymond A. Johnson.

Ray was a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Monongahela for 30 years before joining his wife at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Monessen during his later years. During his time at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, he served on the vestry, as a lay reader, sang in the choir and brought Communion to those who could not attend church.

Born Feb. 8, 1931, in Monessen, Ray was a 1947 graduate of Monessen High School, where he was very active in drama, sports including basketball and baseball, and student government. He went on to earn a bachelor of art's degree in English and speech from Geneva College in 1953, where he continued to exercise his passion for drama and basketball.

Upon graduation from Geneva College, he served two years in the U.S. Army achieving the rank of corporal before receiving an honorable discharge.

He returned to Geneva College where he received his teaching certificate.

In 1955, he entered the industrial relations training program at the Pittsburgh Steel Corp. During his more than 35 years with Pittsburgh Steel and its successor, Wheeling Pittsburgh Steel, he worked in various roles at the Monessen plant including as general foreman of the sinter plant and general foreman of raw materials in the blast furnace department.

The combination of his BA in English and speech and his knowledge of steel plant operations resulted in his promotion to director of public relations during the company's Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the 1980s. He served in this position until his retirement from the company on Feb. 8, 1993.

Ray's passion for theater was an ever present force in his life. He acted in numerous productions as both a lead character and supporting character during high school and college as well as in small theater companies in the Mon Valley from the 1950s through the early 1970s. Ray was a founding member of two Mon Valley theater groups, The Keystone Players and The Steel Valley Players, where he acted in and directed numerous productions. He also directed the Monessen High School class play in 1968 and 1969.

During his retirement, he served as theatrical adviser to the Monessen High School Group for the Performing Arts. Among the roles he cherished most throughout his life were Luther Billis in “South Pacific,” Jud Fry in “Oklahoma,” Oscar Madison in “The Odd Couple” and Count Dracula in “Dracula.”

Ray also was an avid golfer, a longtime member and former champion of both the Wheeling Pittsburgh Steel Golf League and Monessen Elks Golf League.

<B>JOHNSON</B> —The family of Raymond A. Johnson II, who died Wednesday, March 16, 2011, will welcome friends Sunday from 4:30 p.m. until the time of funeral services at 5:30 p.m. at the Seaman Memorial Chapel at Passavant Retirement Community, 401 S. Main St. in Zelienople. Interment with military honors will be at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, Bridgeville, Monday at 10:30 a.m.In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his honor to the Alzheimer's Association, 1100 Liberty Ave., Suite E-201, Pittsburgh, PA 15222; or to the Lutheran Senior Life Foundation, Passavant Retirement Community, 401 S. Main St., Zelienople, PA 16063.Funeral arrangements were entrusted to <B>Boylan Funeral Home</B>, Zelienople. Online condolences and directions are available at www.boylanfuneralhome.com.