William Johnson - Obituary

WILLIAM MANVILLE JOHNSON, Jr. ‘47 Commander William M. Johnson, Jr. CEC, USN (Ret.) died of heart failure on December 18, 2008. He was 84 years old. Bill was born in Englewood, New Jersey, on July 26, 1924, to William and Ethel Johnson. At the age of three his parents moved the family to Westport, Connecticut. Bill graduated from Vermont Academy with the class of 1942 and completed his high school education at Randall School in Washington, D.C. From the state of Connecticut, he received a congressional appointment to the Naval Academy Class of 1947, graduating early with the Class of 1946, the 18th company. At the Academy, Bill competed in Gymnastics and was an active in the Academy Sailing team. Following his commissioning, Bill served on the USS Juneau CLAA 119, and in 1949 he was selected for a three years postgraduate program at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He graduated with an MCE in Structural Engineering and transferred to the U.S. Naval Civil Engineering Corps. Bill's duty stations included NAS Bermuda; 8th Naval District, New Orleans; Naval Ammunition Depot, McAlester, Oklahoma; Naval Air Station Oceana; Naval Station Argentia; Naval Construction Depot, Davisville, Rhode Island; Deputy Officer in charge of construction, Vietnam. Commander Johnson completed his Naval career in 1967, retiring from the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Washington, D.C. Following retirement, Bill embarked on a career consulting on, constructing and developing resort properties in Rehobeth, Delaware and Ocean City, Maryland. Bill and Helen were married in 1972 and moved to Annapolis in 1974. There were avid sailors, tennis enthusiasts, and spent many happy days on the ocean beaches. Bill was a founder and officer in the Corinthian Sailing Organization's Annapolis Chapter, organizing and participating in cruises on the Chesapeake Bay and the oceans of the world. Bill was a man who lived fully and engaged passionately in his Naval career, sailing and skiing. His love of life was infectious, and friends who respected his loyalty and enthusiasm for life always surrounded Bill. Like a yar sailing vessel, Bill kept his life on an even keel and his family, his friends and his work trim and secure. Bill is survived by his loving wife, Helen, his sister Barbara Olin,nephews Larry, Johnny and Rick, niece Robin Risley and stepsister Gail Dapogny. Friends are invited to Bill's Life Celebration at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater, from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, December 27 & 28, 2008, including a prayer Sunday evening. For further details, call the Kalas Funeral Home at 410-956-4488. Bill's ashes will be buried in Westport, Connecticut, and spread with the winds on the Chesapeake Bay. The family requests that contributions may be made in memory of William M. Johnson, Jr. to: U.S. Naval Academy Foundation, (Class of '47), 291 Wood Road, Beach Hall, Annapolis MD 21402. (410-295-4101.) Â