Edward O’Brien “Bubba” Johnson, III, 83, passed away on Sunday, December 7, 2025, in Newport News. He was a lifelong resident of Newport News. Bubba served for three years in the U.S. Army. After his service, he became a Building Contractor and ran Johnson’s Remodeling for over 20 years until his retirement.
He had great love for his family and home. He lived to have fun and loved to tell his corny jokes.
Bubba had a huge memorabilia collection of Elvis Presley. He had a passion for music and collected records from the 1950s, as well as numerous other collections spanning up to the present day. To know Bubba, you connected him to his Elvis Room, which was very impressive to see. He went so far as to name his Golden Retriever, Elvis.
Bubba was preceded in death by his parents, Edward O. Johnson, Jr., and Evelyn E. Bainey Johnson, his daughter Connie R. Scott and son Brian D. Gardner, his sister, Lucille Johnson, and brother, Ronnie Johnson. He is survived by his wife of 21 years, Frances E. Johnson; son, David M. Gardner and his wife Amy; eight grandchildren, Kristen Graham, Brittany Scott, Johnny Scott, Michael Gardner, Rhett Gardner, Cameron Gardner, Sydney Newton and Hannah Newton; two great-grandchildren, D.J. Graham and Hudson C. Johnson; brother, David Johnson; sisters, Judy Ashby and Linda Johnson; and many nieces and nephews.
Bubba was a generous, kind soul to everyone. He will be truly missed by his loving wife, Frances, and dedicated caretaker. While our hearts mourn his loss, we take comfort in knowing he is now at peace and is no longer suffering from years of Diabetes.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the American Diabetes Association (www.diabetes.org).
A funeral service will be held on Monday, December 15, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. at Peninsula Funeral Home, with Pastor Dean Meyer officiating. The family has requested that the burial be private.