Edway Richard Johnson, “Ed,” passed away peacefully on November 28, 2012, at Fairfax INOVA Hospital, Fairfax, VA, following a lengthy illness.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Geraldine Love Johnson “Jerry”; and seven children, Melinda Johnson Emery (Rockford), Springfield, VA, Deborah Johnson Sutton (Steve), Knoxville, TN, Jillanna Johnson Lane (Gerald), of Knoxville, TN, Marianna Johnson Corum (Alvin, deceased), Knoxville, TN, Lt. Col. Edway R. Johnson II (Kelly), of Leesburg, VA, Constance Johnson Barton (Craig), of Manassas, VA, and Lt. Col. Theodore A. Johnson (Monica), of Ft. Leavenworth, KS.

Ed was born on December 13, 1927, in Lima, Ohio, and grew up in Lima and Columbus, Ohio, where he attended West High School. Following graduation Ed spent two years in the U.S. Navy.

After being discharged from the Navy, Ed attended Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio, then began his career with Monsanto Chemical Company, in Fernald, Ohio, as a chemist. Following that Ed worked for National Lead Company at the AEC plant in Fernald, Ohio, where his interest in the nuclear energy field began.

At that point he and three associates with the same interests in nuclear energy led the effort to begin what would become Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc. of Erwin, TN, a supplier of nuclear fuel to the U.S. Navy. Ed was also involved in the development of Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc. at West Valley, NY.

In 1964, Ed formed E.R. Johnson Associates, an engineering firm, which later evolved into JAI Corporation. He headed JAI Corporation until the end of 2011. During the past year Ed had continued working as a private consultant in the nuclear energy industry for companies in the U.S. and abroad.

The family has asked that in lieu of flowers contributions be made to the Edway R. and Geraldine L. Johnson Scholarship for Science at Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio 43403, which has been giving scholarships to outstanding young people in the sciences for the past several years.

Fairfax Memorial Funeral Home, 9902 Braddock Road, Fairfax, Virginia 22032; 703-425-9702