Hot (Lewis Ponder) Johnson

Hot (Lewis Ponder) Johnson passed away December 22, 2018 at Circle of Life Hospice in Springdale, Arkansas. He was surrounded by family and friends. Born July 1, 1932 in Wichita Falls, Texas to William Bryan and Mildred Ponder Johnson, Hot spent most of his early childhood in Texas before moving with his family to Fayetteville in 1943. He grew up in the family plumbing business, and after what he described as "two terms—Truman's and Eisenhower's" at the University of Arkansas took over his father's plumbing business, Johnson Plumbing, in partnership with his brother, Harold. Together they expanded the business to also include Fayetteville Sheet Metal and Johnson Hardware before Hot sold his share to Harold. Hot was a fixture on Dickson Street in its heyday, from which emerged many stories—a few of which have become part of Fayetteville lore—and many lifetime friendships. Hot's humor was legendary, and not infrequently shocking (well before that was a thing), and he was in high demand at parties and other gatherings among his large network of friends. Though he did not graduate from the University, Hot was an educated man. An autodidact, he was a particularly erudite plumber with a rapier wit and a love of words and word play. His children bore the brunt of his passion for words, logging what we are sure were many miles in trips—mostly under protest—to the ever-open Random House Unabridged Dictionary. Hot was preceded in death by his dearly beloved wife of 57 years, Christine, who he thought of every day and dreamt of every night. He is survived by his children Julie Johnson Garton and her husband Brett, and Jonathan Johnson; grandchildren Jennifer Simmons and her husband John, Daniel Cox, Juliana Antoninus, Sarah Langham and husband John, and Mary Gwin and her husband Justin; and great-grandchildren Connor, Lillian, Vivienne, Rebekah and Samuel. Siblings Harold Johnson, Shirley Neal and Sallye Martin preceded him in death, and he is survived by brothers Russel Johnson and Fred Johnson. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Hot Johnson's name to the Arkansas Children's Hospital Foundation (P.O. Box 2222, Little Rock, Ark., 72203; or at giving.archildrens.org) or to Circle of Life Hospice (nwacircleoflife.com). A party to celebrate Hot's life will be held at the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks, 4703 N. Crossover Road, Springdale, Arkansas, 72764 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm on Saturday, January 12. To place an online tribute visit www.mooresfuneralchapel.com.