William (“Bill”) Rutherfoord Johnson entered into Eternal Rest in Bernalillo, New Mexico, on September 28, 2026, at the age of 75. Bill was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on February 7,1951, and grew up in Santa Fe and Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was a graduate of the New Mexico Military Institute and the University of New Mexico.

Bill was married to Diana Ochoa Johnson for 40 years. Their daughter, Jessica C. Celmer of Jemez Springs, New Mexico, was Bill’s greatest pride and joy.

Bill had a successful career in television advertising and marketing, working for several stations in Albuquerque, NM, San Antonio, Texas, and Tucson, Arizona. In his post-retirement years, Bill enjoyed working as a part-time realtor in San Antonio.

Bill was a talented actor. He won an Irene Ryan acting award as an undergraduate at the University of New Mexico. Bill acted in community theater in San Antonio, and had many minor roles in movies and commercials produced in the Austin and Dallas areas.

Bill was a proud member of the Optimist Club of San Antonio for over 30 years. He served as the District Chair for the South Texas Oratorical Competition for several years. Bill also served as a board member of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in San Antonio, and enjoyed singing in the choir at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in San Antonio. In his spare time, Bill enjoyed golfing, gardening, traveling, going to the theater, and cheering on his beloved San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Cowboys. Bill and Diana recently relocated back to New Mexico from San Antonio to be close to family, and enjoyed spending time with their daughter and beloved pets. Bill especially enjoyed spending time outdoors admiring the beautiful view of the Sandias from his new home. Bill had a charming, intelligent, and witty personality that filled every room he entered. He will be deeply missed by friends, associates, and the family he was so devoted to.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, John Elliott Johnson and Johanna Case, sister Johanna Johnson, and daughter Michelle Hill.

He is survived by his wife, Diana O. Johnson, daughter, Jessica C. Celmer and son-in-law, Jonathan Celmer, brother Curtis Johnson and his partner, Amy Robinson, cousins, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, grand-nieces, and grand-nephew.

A funeral Mass for Bill will be offered at the Church of the Incarnation Catholic Church, 2309 Monterey Rd, NE, Rio Rancho, NM, on Saturday, October 31st, 2026, at 10 a.m. A reception will immediately follow at the Alegria Clubhouse, 901 Cottonwood Circle, Bernalillo, NM 87004.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Bill’s name to Optimist International Foundation/World Oratorical Contest or your local animal rescue.