Thomas "Tom" William Gilbert Johnson

Thomas William Gilbert Johnson of Cordova, MD, passed away Saturday November 4th, 2023, at Easton Memorial Hospital at the age of 75 due to heart failure. Tom was born on November 2, 1948, at Easton Memorial Hospital. He was the son of the late Roger and Margaret Johnson. Tom grew up on a family farm in Cordova, MD; milking cows, planting and harvesting annual crops with his father and late brother, Roger. Tom’s farming background later resulted in him becoming an accomplished horticulturalist, cultivating a variety of beautiful plants and shrubs for himself and others in the local area. In addition to farming, he was also an experienced apiarist, managing a collection of beehives while growing up on the farm. Tom attended Cordova Elementary School and graduated from Easton High School with the class of 1967. He then began working at the Star Democrat and later at Tidewater Publishing Company as a print setter. Tom also continued his education at Chesapeake Community College and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, achieving a BS in Business Administration, as well as additional post graduate courses. Following working at Tidewater Publishing Company, Tom was employed at Allen Family Foods in Cordova as the refrigeration and boiler technician from 1990 until his retirement in 2017. He later returned to work at Allen Family Foods, performing gate and product inventory security and monitoring refrigeration equipment until 2018. In retirement, Tom continued his interests in gardening and antique collecting. Tom was also a dedicated caretaker for several homeless cats that wandered around the neighborhood. He provided the necessary veterinary care and daily food for the many cats that meowed at the back door. Tom had a love for all animals and especially loved two cats, Thor and Sweetie Pie, that later became his own family pets. Tom enjoyed spending time with friends and family. He will be remembered for his quick wit, humor, and often direct approach to conversation. At least a few friends referred to Tom as a “fount of information” as family friends relied on him to remember family history and answer questions on a variety of subjects. Tom was preceded in death by his parents, brother Roger “Joe”, and brothers-in-law Donald Lee Foster and Donald Trice. He is survived by his sisters; Agnes Foster, Delores Walski (Tom), and Diane Trice; niece Laura Collins (Rodney); nephews Don Foster (Meghan), Adam Walski (Stephanie) and Peter Walski; great nephews; Logan Collins, Mason Collins, Cole Foster, and Leon Walski; great niece; Kendall Foster, and his long-time friend Joe Rose. There will be a 1-hour visitation at 10 am followed by a service at 11 am on Thursday November 16, 2023, at Fellows, Helfenbein, and Newnam Funeral Home, 200 South Harrison St. Easton, MD. In lieu of flowers, friends may send donations in Tom’s memory to the Talbot County Humane Society, 7894 Ocean Gateway, P.O. Box 1143, Easton, MD 21601 or to Tom’s Cat Solutions, Easton, MD (www.tomcatsolutionsoline.org/CONTACT-US).

Thomas "Tom" William Gilbert Johnson

November 2, 1948 - November 4, 2023