LITTLE RIVER-ACADEMY, TEXAS (KCEN) -- The man who died while doing what he loved is now at rest. James Johnson, the 71-year-old school bus driver from the horrific accident in Little River-Academy last month, passed away Wednesday.
On one side of Highway 95, people walked out of First Baptist Church of Academy after remembering the man who made the school day what it is.
On the other side, stood the elementary school that made the man.
"Yeah, he's a bus driver...No, he's much much more than that," said former co-worker Deanna Mueller.
"Everybody told stories about Mr. J," said parent and former co-worker Sharon Bittinger.
"Gave his life for those kids," said former co-worker Patti Engelke.
Critically injured driving the children he loved, Johnson spent two weeks in a medically induced coma before he died 4 p.m. Wednesday afternoon.
Almost a month ago to the day of the funeral, Johnson and 30 kids were on the morning commute January 17th around 7:30 am when disaster struck in the form of a Loews delivery truck. 29 kids and 3 adults were sent to the hospital.
And now, one death.
It was a packed house for Johnson. An Army veteran, he spent the first half of his career in farming. Then people say he found his true calling. For 27 and a half years James Johnson did it all for Academy ISD. He drove buses, helped clean the cafeteria and was just a good friend to students and coworkers.
"He was my son's first driver and he drove him all twelve years," said Bittinger.
"He outshowed the teachers on playing with the kids on the playground," said Mueller.
"I don't think he knew how many lives he touched," said Bittinger.
Leading the funeral procession was the Academy Independent School District bus fleet.
In front, the new bus to replace Mr. Johnson's. But there's nothing that can replace the driver.
Reporter/Photographer: Joshua Skurnik
