MSGT, US AIR FORCE
KOREA, VIETNAM
Master Sergeant William "Bill" Alvin Johnson passed away peacefully on December 27, 2012 at his home. He was born on August 30, 1928 to Alvin Hartman Johnson and Ruth Miller Walters in Swedesboro, NJ. Bill's family lived in several states (NJ, WI, CA, and AL) during Bill's childhood due to his father's occupation as a chemical engineer. They later moved to Chattanooga, TN where Bill attended Baylor as a teenager and was a track star. His family lived in Merchantville, NJ and Covington, VA as Bill became a young adult. He enlisted in the USAF during the Korean War after attending the University of Virginia and St. Joseph's in Philadelphia, PA. Bill retired from the USAF in 1974 after 23 years of military service and subsequently completed his undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of West Florida. He retired for a second time in 1992 from the State of Florida. Bill touched the lives of many families through his work in foster care, protective services, adoptions, foster parent training, and foster home licensing.
Bill was active in the Friends of St. Andrews State Park for several years and was a charter member of the Board of Directors of the Friends of Florida State Parks. He particularly enjoyed writing articles for the St. Andrews State Park and participating in their annual turtle watch on Shell Island, as well as, traveling to many Florida State Parks. Bill was a member of Lynn Haven United Methodist Church. He was an avid reader, with a fondness for Anthony Trollope novels. He also enjoyed listening to music; watching college football, tennis, and golf; gardening; writing; and traveling.
Bill always had a smile and hug, as well as, a song for everyone and thanked God for each day. He was a kind, loving, and generous man who loved his family dearly and he will be sorely missed by them.
He is preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Lt. Col. Donald Lee Johnson. He is survived by his wife, Sarah Joyce Johnson; his children, Jeffrey Johnson (Teresa); David Johnson (Rae); Suzanne (Dr. David "Ty") Turbyfill; Alison (Mark) Yates; Karen Howard; and Kelly (Vance) Andre; 13 grandchildren: Eric and Christopher Johnson; Brandon Greene and Kaitlin Johnson; Trent and Taitem Turbyfill; Jennifer, Ashley, Amber, Meaghan, and Kaitlyn Howard; Sarah and Forrest Andre; three great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Marilyn Johnson; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Dr. Michael and Janice Thorstad; a cousin, Joanne (Tom) Nichols; several nieces and nephews; and his beloved tuxedo cats, Jet and Whiskers.
His family extends heartfelt thanks to Dr. Azzam Adhal and his medical staff, as well as, Emerald Coast Hospice, Gentiva Home Health Care, Gulf Coast Medical Center, and a special friend/caregiver, Bealinda (Tim) Wolfe, for their loving care of Bill. Dr. Adhal was not only Bill's doctor, but his friend whom Bill lovingly called his brother.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, January 12, 2013 at the Lynn Haven United Methodist Church, with interment in the Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola, FL on a later date. Contributions can be made in Bill's memory to his favorite charity, St. Labre Indian School, in Ashland, MT.
Written by Sarah Joyce Gibbs Johnson and was published in the Panama City News Herald.
Note: Bill's interment at Barrancas National Cemetery was on February 15, 2013.
KOREA, VIETNAM
Master Sergeant William "Bill" Alvin Johnson passed away peacefully on December 27, 2012 at his home. He was born on August 30, 1928 to Alvin Hartman Johnson and Ruth Miller Walters in Swedesboro, NJ. Bill's family lived in several states (NJ, WI, CA, and AL) during Bill's childhood due to his father's occupation as a chemical engineer. They later moved to Chattanooga, TN where Bill attended Baylor as a teenager and was a track star. His family lived in Merchantville, NJ and Covington, VA as Bill became a young adult. He enlisted in the USAF during the Korean War after attending the University of Virginia and St. Joseph's in Philadelphia, PA. Bill retired from the USAF in 1974 after 23 years of military service and subsequently completed his undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of West Florida. He retired for a second time in 1992 from the State of Florida. Bill touched the lives of many families through his work in foster care, protective services, adoptions, foster parent training, and foster home licensing.
Bill was active in the Friends of St. Andrews State Park for several years and was a charter member of the Board of Directors of the Friends of Florida State Parks. He particularly enjoyed writing articles for the St. Andrews State Park and participating in their annual turtle watch on Shell Island, as well as, traveling to many Florida State Parks. Bill was a member of Lynn Haven United Methodist Church. He was an avid reader, with a fondness for Anthony Trollope novels. He also enjoyed listening to music; watching college football, tennis, and golf; gardening; writing; and traveling.
Bill always had a smile and hug, as well as, a song for everyone and thanked God for each day. He was a kind, loving, and generous man who loved his family dearly and he will be sorely missed by them.
He is preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Lt. Col. Donald Lee Johnson. He is survived by his wife, Sarah Joyce Johnson; his children, Jeffrey Johnson (Teresa); David Johnson (Rae); Suzanne (Dr. David "Ty") Turbyfill; Alison (Mark) Yates; Karen Howard; and Kelly (Vance) Andre; 13 grandchildren: Eric and Christopher Johnson; Brandon Greene and Kaitlin Johnson; Trent and Taitem Turbyfill; Jennifer, Ashley, Amber, Meaghan, and Kaitlyn Howard; Sarah and Forrest Andre; three great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Marilyn Johnson; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Dr. Michael and Janice Thorstad; a cousin, Joanne (Tom) Nichols; several nieces and nephews; and his beloved tuxedo cats, Jet and Whiskers.
His family extends heartfelt thanks to Dr. Azzam Adhal and his medical staff, as well as, Emerald Coast Hospice, Gentiva Home Health Care, Gulf Coast Medical Center, and a special friend/caregiver, Bealinda (Tim) Wolfe, for their loving care of Bill. Dr. Adhal was not only Bill's doctor, but his friend whom Bill lovingly called his brother.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, January 12, 2013 at the Lynn Haven United Methodist Church, with interment in the Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola, FL on a later date. Contributions can be made in Bill's memory to his favorite charity, St. Labre Indian School, in Ashland, MT.
Written by Sarah Joyce Gibbs Johnson and was published in the Panama City News Herald.
Note: Bill's interment at Barrancas National Cemetery was on February 15, 2013.
MSGT, US AIR FORCE
KOREA, VIETNAM
Master Sergeant William "Bill" Alvin Johnson passed away peacefully on December 27, 2012 at his home. He was born on August 30, 1928 to Alvin Hartman Johnson and Ruth Miller Walters in Swedesboro, NJ. Bill's family lived in several states (NJ, WI, CA, and AL) during Bill's childhood due to his father's occupation as a chemical engineer. They later moved to Chattanooga, TN where Bill attended Baylor as a teenager and was a track star. His family lived in Merchantville, NJ and Covington, VA as Bill became a young adult. He enlisted in the USAF during the Korean War after attending the University of Virginia and St. Joseph's in Philadelphia, PA. Bill retired from the USAF in 1974 after 23 years of military service and subsequently completed his undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of West Florida. He retired for a second time in 1992 from the State of Florida. Bill touched the lives of many families through his work in foster care, protective services, adoptions, foster parent training, and foster home licensing.
Bill was active in the Friends of St. Andrews State Park for several years and was a charter member of the Board of Directors of the Friends of Florida State Parks. He particularly enjoyed writing articles for the St. Andrews State Park and participating in their annual turtle watch on Shell Island, as well as, traveling to many Florida State Parks. Bill was a member of Lynn Haven United Methodist Church. He was an avid reader, with a fondness for Anthony Trollope novels. He also enjoyed listening to music; watching college football, tennis, and golf; gardening; writing; and traveling.
Bill always had a smile and hug, as well as, a song for everyone and thanked God for each day. He was a kind, loving, and generous man who loved his family dearly and he will be sorely missed by them.
He is preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Lt. Col. Donald Lee Johnson. He is survived by his wife, Sarah Joyce Johnson; his children, Jeffrey Johnson (Teresa); David Johnson (Rae); Suzanne (Dr. David "Ty") Turbyfill; Alison (Mark) Yates; Karen Howard; and Kelly (Vance) Andre; 13 grandchildren: Eric and Christopher Johnson; Brandon Greene and Kaitlin Johnson; Trent and Taitem Turbyfill; Jennifer, Ashley, Amber, Meaghan, and Kaitlyn Howard; Sarah and Forrest Andre; three great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Marilyn Johnson; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Dr. Michael and Janice Thorstad; a cousin, Joanne (Tom) Nichols; several nieces and nephews; and his beloved tuxedo cats, Jet and Whiskers.
His family extends heartfelt thanks to Dr. Azzam Adhal and his medical staff, as well as, Emerald Coast Hospice, Gentiva Home Health Care, Gulf Coast Medical Center, and a special friend/caregiver, Bealinda (Tim) Wolfe, for their loving care of Bill. Dr. Adhal was not only Bill's doctor, but his friend whom Bill lovingly called his brother.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, January 12, 2013 at the Lynn Haven United Methodist Church, with interment in the Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola, FL on a later date. Contributions can be made in Bill's memory to his favorite charity, St. Labre Indian School, in Ashland, MT.
Written by Sarah Joyce Gibbs Johnson and was published in the Panama City News Herald.
Note: Bill's interment at Barrancas National Cemetery was on February 15, 2013.
KOREA, VIETNAM
Master Sergeant William "Bill" Alvin Johnson passed away peacefully on December 27, 2012 at his home. He was born on August 30, 1928 to Alvin Hartman Johnson and Ruth Miller Walters in Swedesboro, NJ. Bill's family lived in several states (NJ, WI, CA, and AL) during Bill's childhood due to his father's occupation as a chemical engineer. They later moved to Chattanooga, TN where Bill attended Baylor as a teenager and was a track star. His family lived in Merchantville, NJ and Covington, VA as Bill became a young adult. He enlisted in the USAF during the Korean War after attending the University of Virginia and St. Joseph's in Philadelphia, PA. Bill retired from the USAF in 1974 after 23 years of military service and subsequently completed his undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of West Florida. He retired for a second time in 1992 from the State of Florida. Bill touched the lives of many families through his work in foster care, protective services, adoptions, foster parent training, and foster home licensing.
Bill was active in the Friends of St. Andrews State Park for several years and was a charter member of the Board of Directors of the Friends of Florida State Parks. He particularly enjoyed writing articles for the St. Andrews State Park and participating in their annual turtle watch on Shell Island, as well as, traveling to many Florida State Parks. Bill was a member of Lynn Haven United Methodist Church. He was an avid reader, with a fondness for Anthony Trollope novels. He also enjoyed listening to music; watching college football, tennis, and golf; gardening; writing; and traveling.
Bill always had a smile and hug, as well as, a song for everyone and thanked God for each day. He was a kind, loving, and generous man who loved his family dearly and he will be sorely missed by them.
He is preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Lt. Col. Donald Lee Johnson. He is survived by his wife, Sarah Joyce Johnson; his children, Jeffrey Johnson (Teresa); David Johnson (Rae); Suzanne (Dr. David "Ty") Turbyfill; Alison (Mark) Yates; Karen Howard; and Kelly (Vance) Andre; 13 grandchildren: Eric and Christopher Johnson; Brandon Greene and Kaitlin Johnson; Trent and Taitem Turbyfill; Jennifer, Ashley, Amber, Meaghan, and Kaitlyn Howard; Sarah and Forrest Andre; three great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Marilyn Johnson; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Dr. Michael and Janice Thorstad; a cousin, Joanne (Tom) Nichols; several nieces and nephews; and his beloved tuxedo cats, Jet and Whiskers.
His family extends heartfelt thanks to Dr. Azzam Adhal and his medical staff, as well as, Emerald Coast Hospice, Gentiva Home Health Care, Gulf Coast Medical Center, and a special friend/caregiver, Bealinda (Tim) Wolfe, for their loving care of Bill. Dr. Adhal was not only Bill's doctor, but his friend whom Bill lovingly called his brother.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, January 12, 2013 at the Lynn Haven United Methodist Church, with interment in the Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola, FL on a later date. Contributions can be made in Bill's memory to his favorite charity, St. Labre Indian School, in Ashland, MT.
Written by Sarah Joyce Gibbs Johnson and was published in the Panama City News Herald.
Note: Bill's interment at Barrancas National Cemetery was on February 15, 2013.
Inscription
MSGT USAF
KOREA VIETNAM
BELOVED
HUSBAND DAD
GRANDDAD
Family Members
Siblings
