Ocoee community comes together to help 83-year-old veteran

For six months, Ed Johnson and Nancy Loental spent their days enjoying each other’s company. 

They loved visiting the Renninger’s Antique Center and could make a whole day trip out of the visit. 

They loved sitting by the lake, listening to music and dancing the night away. 

They loved fishing together.

They loved visiting restaurants and trying new dishes. 

They simply loved spending time together.

But on Dec. 14, 2025, everything changed. 

Loental fell ill and died, leaving Johnson without his companion. 

After her death, the Homeowners Association that governed Loental’s community decided Johnson no longer could live in the home.

Not only did Johnson lose his love. He also lost his home.

Loental’s daughter, Debbie Calderon, began asking Ocoee residents for a lending hand, through monetary donations, services or prayers. 

And the community has responded, with many showing up and showing out for the veteran who fought for our country. 

LOVE STORY

Before he met Loental, Ed Johnson — a U.S. Army veteran who served in the infantry during the Vietnam War — was happily married and lived in a trailer with his wife. 

But a severe mold infestation forced them out of their home. The trailer was demolished, and the two moved into an apartment while they awaited a new trailer to be installed.

But in May 2025, Johnson’s wife died, leaving him devastated and lonely. He made a post on Nextdoor looking for a companion. 

Loental responded with a message.

From then on, they were inseparable. They fished, danced,  painted and tried new restaurants. That made Johnson happy, and he made Loental happy. 

Johnson moved in with Loental shortly after his lease was up, and they kept each other company. 

Behind the scenes, the contractor Johnson hired to help with his trailers vanished with Johnson’s $30,000 and never completed the work.

He was scammed. 

While it hurt and upset Johnson, he just was over-the-moon about his new partner and the new love they had found in each other. 

“She was more alive and happy than I had ever seen her in many, many years,” Calderon said. “It was like an instant connection with the two of them.

“When Ed came along, it was just like a miracle,” she said. “Having him is like having a parent.” 

Johnson said they were like school kids falling in love for the first time. 

Then, Loental died, leaving Johnson alone again. 

HEARTBROKEN, HOMELESS

Because of the HOA’s decision to force him out of Loental’s home, Johnson didn’t have much time to grieve.

“My heart sank,” he said when he learned of the HOA’s decision. “I felt very secure. I didn’t know anything like that was going to happen. … It wasn’t good news.” 

Johnson gathered all the money he had left — $11,000 — and purchased a fifth wheel RV. Unfortunately, it, too, had issues. The roof leaks during thunderstorms, the A/C doesn’t work, and the plumbing needs to be replaced. Furthermore, half the camper is without power and its slide-out had to be rebuilt due to moldy blown-in cellulose insulation caused by the leaks. 

Calderon has organized a GoFundMe to help the parent figure in her life who brought so much joy and love to her mother.

She couldn’t let him become homeless — not after everything he has done for the country and for her mother. 

As an Ocoee resident, Calderon asked city residents to come together in any way possible to give him a stable, safe home. 

After so much grief and loneliness, it’s what he deserves, she said. 

Families, friends, acquaintances and strangers have come together to donate their services, expertise, opinions, time and effort to make the 83-year-old veteran happy again. 

“It’s restored our faith in humanity,” Calderon said. 

RACE AGAINST TIME

With a tight deadline, the pressure is on. 

The HOA has given Johnson until the end of July to move out, but with renovations still needed, Calderon is worried Johnson will have to go back to living in an unstable home. 

After simply making a post on Facebook, however, Calderon’s worries have disappeared.

The camper's insulation needed replacing. 

 

Dozens of people have responded with empathy, love and services. 

From fixing the plumbing, insulation, A/C and more, the Ocoee community exceeded all expectations Johnson and Calderon had.  

“All these people are giving up their free time, their family time, their weekend, and I just don’t even know how to express how grateful we are,” Calderon said. 

As a 20-year educator with OCPS and an Ocoee resident, Calderon is in awe of her community’s generosity.

“He’s not used to just sitting and letting someone else do things for him, so it’s hard for him,” Calderon said of Johnson. “It’s hard to accept help. … But God helps us see good things. Without some of these bad things happening, we wouldn’t have had the opportunity to see all these good things.” 

While work still needs to be done, Calderon and Johnson are optimistic. 

“I feel hope that everything is going to get better for Ed,” Calderon said. 

Right now, Calderon is searching for a ramp to help Johnson get inside and outside with ease. 

Because Johnson has hernias and back problems, a ramp is a must to allow him to remain safe, Calderon said, but those can cost thousands of dollars. 

With a GoFundMe account set to $4,000, Calderon and Johnson must raise another $1,515 to reach its goal. 

The money will go toward the ramp, tools and materials required to finish renovations and rebuilding, and to give back to those who so generously helped them. 

“My biggest thing is that after bad experiences, now I’ve had so many good people come out of the woodwork and help, that’s been really satisfying for me,” Johnson said. “It’s like it renewed my faith in people.” 

Eventually, Johnson hopes to return to painting — a pastime he abandoned after Loental’s passing. He couldn’t bear to do it without her. 

As his living situation begins to settle, he is finding inspiration. 

He’s always had an affinity for art and went on to become a jeweler in his adulthood, but his true passion is painting. 

“Just recently, not really having anything to do here and getting bored, I’ve been taking pictures of things that are on television that I can put into one scene together as a painting,” he said. “I’m ready to start painting again.” 

But before he can do that, he must move into his trailer and vacate the home where hundreds of memories between him and his love lie. 

Through and through, though, he’s just thankful for those who have dedicated their time and effort to help him at his low. 

“It’s been wonderful,” Johnson said. “So many people came out of the woodwork — and after I’ve had so many bad experiences, it’s all good now. My life would be a lot worse if it weren’t for them.”