1934
Ret. MSgt
2012
Ret. MSgt Jimmy L. Johnson
June 8, 1934 — December 8, 2012
Ret. MSgt. Jimmy "Jim" Lee Johnson was born June 8, 1934 in Stanberry, Missouri to James Shelby and Margaret Ruth Johnson. Jim joined the Navy in 1952 as soon as he graduated high school. He really wanted to see the world, and the Navy obliged. The Navy promptly put him aboard an old Liberty ship and transported him to Morocco. However, he quickly tired of chipping paint and left the Navy and returned to Missouri. In 1954 he rejoined the military - this time in the Air Force.
He was soon stationed in England where he served at RAF Woodbridge. He loved England. He was a champion darts player and loved a pint of bitter. He sometimes told a funny story of a trip he took to Norway where the Army and Air Force had stored vehicles in preparation for a feared Soviet invasion. As a mechanic he would maintain the vehicles and then return to England. He made these trips on WW2 era Douglas DC-3s. On one trip, in the winter, one of the engines on the twin-engined aircraft failed. The crew promptly donned parachutes, opened the rear doors and told Jim to start jettisoning everything that wasn't nailed down. The Dakota skimmed the frigid waters of the North Sea, but made it back to England.
Jim spent a total of 10 years in England over his 22-year military career, with other assignments finding him in Newfoundland, Minnesota, and New Mexico. But his favorite place was England - where he met and married his wife Veronica.
In 1969, Jim deployed to Takhli AFB in Thailand. He was in charge of refueling maintenance for the F-105 Thunderchiefs that flew hundreds of missions over Vietnam. Jim's final Air Force duty assignment was Grand Forks AFB in North Dakota. In 1975, after 22 years of active service he retired, eventually settling in Harrisonville with Veronica and their sons, Andrew and Edward.
Jim was a hard working and loving man who took care of his family. He always had a soft spot for the underdog – especially the four legged kind. Over the years he loved and cared for many stray dogs and cats who found their way to his home.
On December 8, 2012, Jim passed away after a brief battle with lung cancer. Jim is preceded in death by his parents Shelby and Margaret, his brother Max, and nephew SSG Brian Easley, and survived by his wife Veronica, his sons Andrew and Edward, his daughter in law Evelyn, grandchildren Jack and Edie, and siblings Paul, Shirley and Richard.
A Celebration of Life Service was held Wednesday, December 12, 2012 at 11:00 am at the Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonvile, Missouri.
Inurnment was held Thursday, December 13, 2012 in the Leavenworth National Cemetery, Leavenworth, Kansas.
The family suggest that memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army, City Union Mission or to Wayside Wafs.
He was soon stationed in England where he served at RAF Woodbridge. He loved England. He was a champion darts player and loved a pint of bitter. He sometimes told a funny story of a trip he took to Norway where the Army and Air Force had stored vehicles in preparation for a feared Soviet invasion. As a mechanic he would maintain the vehicles and then return to England. He made these trips on WW2 era Douglas DC-3s. On one trip, in the winter, one of the engines on the twin-engined aircraft failed. The crew promptly donned parachutes, opened the rear doors and told Jim to start jettisoning everything that wasn't nailed down. The Dakota skimmed the frigid waters of the North Sea, but made it back to England.
Jim spent a total of 10 years in England over his 22-year military career, with other assignments finding him in Newfoundland, Minnesota, and New Mexico. But his favorite place was England - where he met and married his wife Veronica.
In 1969, Jim deployed to Takhli AFB in Thailand. He was in charge of refueling maintenance for the F-105 Thunderchiefs that flew hundreds of missions over Vietnam. Jim's final Air Force duty assignment was Grand Forks AFB in North Dakota. In 1975, after 22 years of active service he retired, eventually settling in Harrisonville with Veronica and their sons, Andrew and Edward.
Jim was a hard working and loving man who took care of his family. He always had a soft spot for the underdog – especially the four legged kind. Over the years he loved and cared for many stray dogs and cats who found their way to his home.
On December 8, 2012, Jim passed away after a brief battle with lung cancer. Jim is preceded in death by his parents Shelby and Margaret, his brother Max, and nephew SSG Brian Easley, and survived by his wife Veronica, his sons Andrew and Edward, his daughter in law Evelyn, grandchildren Jack and Edie, and siblings Paul, Shirley and Richard.
A Celebration of Life Service was held Wednesday, December 12, 2012 at 11:00 am at the Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonvile, Missouri.
Inurnment was held Thursday, December 13, 2012 in the Leavenworth National Cemetery, Leavenworth, Kansas.
The family suggest that memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army, City Union Mission or to Wayside Wafs.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ret. MSgt Jimmy L. Johnson, please visit our flower store.
Guestbook
Visits: 5
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors