Maynard Kent Johnson, 91, of Fort Worth, Texas, passed peacefully into the afterlife on Wednesday, September 2, 2026.

Maynard was born in the family’s farmhouse in rural Blackford County, Indiana, five miles southeast of Montpelier, Indiana, on September 7, 1934 to Frank and Sylvia Johnson.

He graduated from Montpelier (IN) High School in 1952. Maynard attended college at Purdue University, where he was a four-year member of the Purdue All-American Marching Band. Playing trumpet in the band, he marched in every Western Conference (now Big 10) stadium except Minnesota. It was while a student at Purdue, that Maynard was first exposed to Fine Arts, an appreciation which he would carry throughout his lifetime.

After graduation, he married the love of his life, Janice (Kessler) on June 17, 1956, and, following the wedding ceremony, the couple left for Fort Worth, which would be his home for 68 of the next 70 years.

Upon arriving in Fort Worth, Maynard spent the next 43 years working for Convair/General Dynamics/Lockheed Martin at Air Force Plant 4. Over the course of his professional career, he helped design and test groundbreaking aircraft. Some of those would include: the world’s first operational supersonic bomber (B-58), the world’s first production combat aircraft to incorporate variable sweep wings (F-111), the first production combat aircraft to employ computer control flight systems (F-16) the world’s first fifth-gen fighter jet (F-22. Maynard ultimately retired at the onset of the F-35 fighter program.

In his personal life, music remained a constant joy, whether directing or singing in the church choir or listening to his favorite classical pieces at home. Maynard also kept a constant presence in his son’s lives, coaching or attending baseball, basketball, soccer, football and cross-country events and piano recitals.

He was a true sports fan and supported ‘his’ teams through thick and thin … Purdue Boilermakers, TCU Horned Frogs, West Texas State/A&M Buffaloes, Texas Rangers and Dallas Cowboys.

In retirement, he and Janice enjoyed traveling. First with an Alaska cruise before spreading their wings to further adventures. By the time of Janice’s passing, they had traveled the world two or more times over. Maynard stood on the Great Wall of China, visited Viet Nam, sailed down the Amazon River, saw the Pyramids in Egypt and set foot on the North Pole. The only continent he didn’t visit was Antarctica and that was only because cruises to that locale took place during basketball season (and a native Hoosier wouldn’t miss basketball games).

Maynard was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Syliva, his sister, Jeannine (Zellmer) and his wife of 67 years, Janice. He leaves behind two sons, Kent and his wife, Cary (Canyon, Texas) as well as Kevin and his wife, Kelly (Ballinger, TX), two grandchildren (Haley and Alex) and three great-grandchildren (Phoenix, Winslow and Roman).

A Celebration of Life Service will be held Friday, September 25, 2026, at Arborlawn United Methodist Church, 5001 Briarhaven Road, Fort Worth, Texas, 76109. The family will hold a private inurnment ceremony prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests any donations be made to the Purdue University All-America Marching Band Gift Fund: https://bit.ly/4xNOOdH