Our father, Johnnie Dale Todd Sr, was born on April 17th, 1948 in Mt. Ida, Arkansas, and passed quietly on February 28th, 2023 in Eugene, Oregon.
The Todd family migrated from Arkansas to the tiny little community of Marcola, Oregon (just east of Springfield) very early in his life. He was raised at the family home on Carson Street, attending Marcola Elementary and later, Mohawk High School.
In August 1967, he married Sandra Harmon in Reno. Shortly after, they moved to Seattle where he worked for White Front Department Store.
In 1968 he was drafted by the US Army and spent two years in a tank battalion in Germany.
When Johnnie was drafted, my mother, who was pregnant with her first child, moved into the Harmon Family home in Rio Linda, California.
My father returned from Germany in 1970 and went to work at Campbell Soup Company on Franklin Blvd, eventually becoming a shop steward and later, the president of the Teamsters Local. They rented a house across from the Harmon house on Elkhorn Blvd. and later bought the home at 140 West Monticello Ave.
In 1978, he became a Hornet when he graduated from Sacramento State with a degree in Social Science.
For many years, in the 70s and 80s, “Todd” took great pride and enjoyment in coaching youth sports in Rio Linda. From Rio Linda Falcons Football to Rio Linda Little League to youth basketball, my father made a positive influence on many young lives in our community.
In 1988, he and my mother were divorced, and Dad spent some time in West Sacramento and Oakland. Later, he moved back to the Todd family home in Marcola with Laura Urbansczyk, whom he would later marry.
He loved Oregon. He loved hunting and fishing in the great Oregonian outdoors of his youth. He loved motorcycles and driving in the beautiful Oregon countryside.
He also loved the University of Oregon Football, but definitely not more than he loved his Oakland Raiders. After moving away from Oakland, for many years he would maintain his season tickets and continue to drive to Oakland for Raiders home games.
Johnnie is survived by his wife Laura, his three children, Johnny, Brandon, and Shelby, sisters Alta, Debbie, Crissi, and Kathy, brother Daniel, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Preceded in death by his parents William and Ruby Todd and his brothers David, William, and Joseph.
There will be a celebration of life at Marcola Christian church, in Marcola on April 17, 2023 at 11 am.
