Wesley Clinton Johnson, beloved husband, stepfather, brother, uncle, grandfather, and friend, passed away surrounded by loved ones at his home in Goldthwaite, Texas, on July 18, 2025, at the age of 79.
Wesley was born on December 9, 1945, in Crosby County, Texas in the Panhandle and was raised on a farm in the Lake View Community of Floyd County. He graduated from Floydada High School and carried with him the values of hard work, creativity, and a deep love of life.
A man of many talents and passions, Wesley’s lifelong love for music—especially 50s and 60s rock and roll, classic country, and gospel—was evident to everyone who knew him. Music brought him joy and lit up his spirit.
Wesley wore many hats throughout his life, but he was made for the radio! He spent 20 years working as a disc jockey and newsman at six radio stations (KFLD, KRBE, KENR, KNUZ/KQUE, KIKK, and KTUE) but was perhaps best known by his on-air name, Dan Diamond. His distinctive voice and charismatic personality won him fans and friends across the airwaves. One of his most unique adventures came in 1980, when he accompanied a prized bull gifted by a Houston-area rancher to the Republic of China as part of a segment he recorded for his station.
Over his career, Wesley met and/or interviewed numerous public figures, including five U.S. presidents and entertainers like Donny and Marie Osmond. In addition to his career in broadcasting, he also acted in community theater productions, even taking one show on the road to Floydada and Anahuac, Texas.
After over 12 gratifying years working as Public Information Officer with the City of Houston Public Works and Engineering, Wesley retired in 2008 and embraced travel and adventure. He and Linda enjoyed eight memorable summers in Colorado and road-tripped across the country together. A lifelong enthusiast of classic cars and motorcycles, he was an active member of a classic car club and proudly owned a 1962 Ford pickup, a 1969 Oldsmobile Toronado, and several Harley-Davidsons.
He also loved attending NASCAR races and living life with joy and curiosity. Wesley and his wife, Linda Johnson, moved to Goldthwaite, Texas, in 2008. In 2013, they were baptized together and became members of Center City Baptist Church, a milestone that reflected their shared faith and commitment to the Lord, their community, and one another. They were happily married for 22 years. She was not only his loving wife but also his devoted caretaker in his final years and was a constant source of strength, support, and compassion.
Wesley was preceded in death by his parents, Lee Warner Johnson and Evelyn Brister Johnson, and his sister, Patsy Brock. He is survived by his beloved wife, Linda Johnson; his siblings, Lourie “Lou” Johnson and wife Velda and Novis Brown; bonus children Trisha Gonzales and husband Danny, Charles Marler and wife Emily; eight grandchildren along with their families, two nieces and five nephews. He leaves behind a legacy of laughter, storytelling, and a life fully lived.
Wesley will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
Visitation will be Monday, July 21, 2025 from 5:00 PM till 7:00 PM at Stacy-Wilkins Funeral Home. Service will be Tuesday, July 22, 2025 at 11:00 AM at Center City Baptist Church, Center City, Texas. Interment will be Saturday, July 26, 2025 at 10:00 at Oak Bluff Memorial Cemetery, Port Neches, Texas. Arrangements by Stacy-Wilkins Funeral Home, Goldthwaite, Texas.
