Timothy Johnson

The family of Timothy R. Johnson, Colonel, USAF, Retired, was blessed to be surrounding him when he died peacefully at home in Arlington from heart failure on May 21, 2011. Born in Saginaw, Michigan on July 28, 1917, he was the eldest son of T. Ray Johnson and Alice Pettit Johnson; his two sisters, Ruth and Alice Rae, and three brothers, Walter, Andrew and David predeceased him. After graduating from Central Michigan University where “Bob” was a leader of Danny Rose’s varsity basketball team and President of the Student Senate, Tim joined the Army Air Corps in 1941 and by January 27, 1945 was promoted to Major and commanded the 1 Combat Cargo Squadron (now 326th Airlift Squadron) in China, Burma, and India. After World War II, his Air Force service included ROTC unit command positions at Michigan State University and Superior State University (WI) and extended service to the intelligence community including the Air Force Intelligence Agency, Defense Intelligence Agency, National Security Agency and duty as Air Attaché in Belgrade, Yugoslavia and Stockholm, Sweden. Heart disease led to the loss of his beloved command pilot flying status and subsequent retirement from the Air Force in 1970. His decorations included the Legion of Merit with two oak clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with two oak clusters, and Commander of the Royal Order of the Sword (Sweden). After military retirement, Tim helped American Realty Service Corporation develop the community of Aquia, Virginia. In all of these things Tim demonstrated above all a friendly, outgoing personality, straightforwardness, unfailing tact, and quiet dignity. He was liked by all who met him and was easily recognized as a born leader.

Colonel Johnson is survived by his beloved wife of 69 years, Myra T. Johnson, of Arlington; a son, Doctor Timothy R. B. (Jo) Johnson of Ann Arbor, MI, and a daughter Myra J. Haney of Alexandria, VA; four grandchildren : Bradley R. (Lauren) Johnson, of Boca Raton, FL, Doctor Clark T. (Brook) Johnson of Baltimore, MD, Anna A. Johnson of Arlington, VA, and Whitney C. Haney of Alexandria, VA; two great grandchildren: Emma Beth Johnson of Boca Raton and Timothy Robert Bradley Johnson (III) in Baltimore; and numerous nieces and nephews. Contributions in his honor can be made to the T. R. Johnson Lectureship, Central Michigan University College of Education, 426 EHS Building, Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48859 or Capital Caring Hospice, 5568 General Washington Drive, Suite A215, Alexandria, VA, 22312. Family services with full military honors will be held in due course at Arlington National Cemetery.