Wallace Johnson

Wally attended Elementary and Middle school in Texas and High school in Oakland, CA. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1943 and attended basic training in Farragut, Idaho. In 1948 he left the U.S. Navy and joined the U.S. Air Force. He was stationed at Air Force bases in multiple U.S. locations and he served 4 years in Tachikawa, Japan.

Wally married Catherine Peters in San Francisco, CA in 1946. Wally assisted the FBI on the D.B. Cooper case. You will find photographs of Wally in many of the historical records from the D.B. Cooper case. He retired from the Air Force in 1972. Wally and Catherine made their home in Washington State. He was a member of the 62nd Aerial Port Squadron and he belonged to the NW Chapter of Professional Loadmaster's"s Association; the American Legion, Post No. 0166 and Post No. 0031; the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Tumwater Chapter No. 41; the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW), Post No. 01694; Knights of Columbus; the Distinguished Flying Cross Society (DFC); and the La Societe Des 40 Hommes Et 8 Chevaux, Voiture Locale No. 135 (the 40 and 8).

During his service to his country Wally was awarded the following awards: The Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal, the Combat Readiness Medal, the Air Force Good Conduct Medal, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, the Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon, the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Aircrew Member Badge.

Wally is preceded in death by his parents, brothers Earl and Ilia Johnson, sister Gertie Lou Boggess, daughter Phyllis Ann Caessens, and military brothers TK Davis and Laurence (Larry) Chitty.

Survivors:

Wife: Catherine Johnson, Olympia, WA

Sister: Cordelia Gaunt, Redbluff, CA

Daughter: Patricia (Patti) Ann Gentry, Olympia, WA

Daughter: Peggy Helen Wiser, Olympia, WA

Daughter: Pamela Marie Coleman and husband Selborne (Suds) Coleman, Fort Lauderdale, FL

Daughter: Paula Kathleen MacCombie and husband James MacCombie, Coatesville, PA

Daughter: Penny Elizabeth Conselman and husband Charles (Chip) Conselman, Mesa, AZ

Son: Richard Wallace Johnson, Olympia, WA

Many Grandchildren, Great-Grandchildren, Great-Great-Grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, February 3, 2016 at 1:00 pm at the Mills and Mills Funeral Home in Tumwater, WA.

Officiating at the service will be Deacon Ronnie San Nicolas of Saint Micheal Parish in Olympia.

Burial will be in the Tahoma National Cemetery, Kent, WA

Donations may be made to the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) or the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) in remembrance of Wally.