Sgt Willis Return “Bill” Johnson

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Sgt Willis Return “Bill” Johnson

Birth
Cheswold, Kent County, Delaware, USA
Death
19 Nov 2012 (aged 85)
San Pablo, Contra Costa County, California, USA
Burial
Dixon, Solano County, California, USA GPS-Latitude: 38.4137115, Longitude: -121.8760071
Plot
COL-1 F-33-C
Memorial ID
View Source
Willis Return Johnson

July 28, 1927 – November 19, 2012

CHESWOLD - Retired United States Air Force Master Sargent Willis (Bill) Return Johnson slipped peacefully away into the arms of the Angles. His departure to his next mission occurred at 8:15 am., Monday, Nov. 19, 2012 at Doctors Medical Center in San Pablo, Calif. He was surrounded by family members at the time of his passing.

Bill was a full blooded Native American from the Lenape Indian Tribe of Delaware as was also of a member of the tribe. His Native name is "Thunder One".

Bill was born to Willis Milton Johnson and Henrietta Victoria Carey Johnson of Cheswold, Del. Bill was the oldest of six children, having been preceded in death by his sister, Calanthia Johnson; brother, Charles Johnson and sister Ardella "Dell" Johnson Durham Clinton Durham Sr. of Cheswold, Del. He is survived by his sister, Dolores Johnson Carney Rivera of Kingman Arizona; and brother, Stanley Johnson (Patricia Johnson) of Felton Del.; six nephews; Pete Carney, of Az., Clinton Jr., Steve, and Keith Durham,of Del. Michael, and Jason Johnson of Del; as well as numerous grand nieces and nephews; an ex-wife, two daughters who are, Paula Wimmer and her husband Chris, and their three children Christian, Rebekah, and Naomi of Pinole Calif.; Brenda Odle, her daughters, Dena Walls and her husband Fred, and Michelle Roseman-Yeo and her husband Mark, both of El Cerrito, Calif.

Bill had the pleasure of four great-grandchildren, Antonio and Julian Walls and Charles and Juliet Sutherland. His grandchildren all know him as "Grandpa Dude/Gramps" and his great-grandchildren know him as "Pop Pop".

Bill was a World War II veteran. His military service took him to Germany, North Africa, Turkey, and various other United States Air Forces Bases. Upon entry into the service, his training took him into the field of weather service of the Army Air Corps. He provided weather analysis and reporting for air traffic. After a few years of this service, he was transferred to a secret mission where he provided analysis on the use of Special Weapons. To his departing day, his special weapons work was never spoke of. He had the highest degree of integrity and never divulged this top secret clearance work.

After retirement from the Service, he lived in numerous locations that included, Las Vegas Nevada, Lake Havasu and Topock Arizona, Anacortes, Wash., Sacramento, Larkspur, and West Sacramento, Calif. He loved to travel as well as attend jazz festivals, bluegrass and western swing events, car races, baseball games as well as spring training.

Bill was very outgoing and he never met a stranger. Bill was a person that lived life to its fullest. If there was something that needed to be done, it was done. He will be missed dearly. As his family says, "NO words could describe him; you had to experience him".

The family wishes that in lieu of any flowers, that donations be made in his honor to the American Cancer Society . Gravesite services are pending.

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Click on his name to take you to a Cenotaph in his home town WILLIS RETURN JOHNSON

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Willis Return Johnson

July 28, 1927 – November 19, 2012

CHESWOLD - Retired United States Air Force Master Sargent Willis (Bill) Return Johnson slipped peacefully away into the arms of the Angles. His departure to his next mission occurred at 8:15 am., Monday, Nov. 19, 2012 at Doctors Medical Center in San Pablo, Calif. He was surrounded by family members at the time of his passing.

Bill was a full blooded Native American from the Lenape Indian Tribe of Delaware as was also of a member of the tribe. His Native name is "Thunder One".

Bill was born to Willis Milton Johnson and Henrietta Victoria Carey Johnson of Cheswold, Del. Bill was the oldest of six children, having been preceded in death by his sister, Calanthia Johnson; brother, Charles Johnson and sister Ardella "Dell" Johnson Durham Clinton Durham Sr. of Cheswold, Del. He is survived by his sister, Dolores Johnson Carney Rivera of Kingman Arizona; and brother, Stanley Johnson (Patricia Johnson) of Felton Del.; six nephews; Pete Carney, of Az., Clinton Jr., Steve, and Keith Durham,of Del. Michael, and Jason Johnson of Del; as well as numerous grand nieces and nephews; an ex-wife, two daughters who are, Paula Wimmer and her husband Chris, and their three children Christian, Rebekah, and Naomi of Pinole Calif.; Brenda Odle, her daughters, Dena Walls and her husband Fred, and Michelle Roseman-Yeo and her husband Mark, both of El Cerrito, Calif.

Bill had the pleasure of four great-grandchildren, Antonio and Julian Walls and Charles and Juliet Sutherland. His grandchildren all know him as "Grandpa Dude/Gramps" and his great-grandchildren know him as "Pop Pop".

Bill was a World War II veteran. His military service took him to Germany, North Africa, Turkey, and various other United States Air Forces Bases. Upon entry into the service, his training took him into the field of weather service of the Army Air Corps. He provided weather analysis and reporting for air traffic. After a few years of this service, he was transferred to a secret mission where he provided analysis on the use of Special Weapons. To his departing day, his special weapons work was never spoke of. He had the highest degree of integrity and never divulged this top secret clearance work.

After retirement from the Service, he lived in numerous locations that included, Las Vegas Nevada, Lake Havasu and Topock Arizona, Anacortes, Wash., Sacramento, Larkspur, and West Sacramento, Calif. He loved to travel as well as attend jazz festivals, bluegrass and western swing events, car races, baseball games as well as spring training.

Bill was very outgoing and he never met a stranger. Bill was a person that lived life to its fullest. If there was something that needed to be done, it was done. He will be missed dearly. As his family says, "NO words could describe him; you had to experience him".

The family wishes that in lieu of any flowers, that donations be made in his honor to the American Cancer Society . Gravesite services are pending.

=====================================================

Click on his name to take you to a Cenotaph in his home town WILLIS RETURN JOHNSON

======================================================