This memorial website is dedicated to John Wilder (Wally) Johnson who was born in Ellabell, Georgia on November 22, 1922, and passed away at Buena Vista Care Center in Santa Barbara, California on Monday, August 04, 2008 at the age of 85. Johnson was a resident of Santa Barbara since 1994 and his prior residence (for nearly 40 years) was San Bernardino, California.
A sharecropper's son born to Addie and Herman Orlando Johnson, Wally Johnson was the 8th child in a family of 10 brothers and sisters. Johnson's childhood residences also included Tampa (Florida), Oakland (California), and Honolulu, Hawaii. Johnson received his high school diploma from Oakland Polytechnical High School where he was also a Lieutenant in the ROTC.
Johnson held several jobs as a teenager in Honolulu and prior to World War II, including head waiter at the Dean's Hotel on Waikiki Beach, a sales clerk and soda jerk at the Waikiki Drug Store, a soda jerk at "Swanky Franky's - the Aristocrat of Hot Dogs" restaurant, and as a delivery driver for the Von Ham Young Laundry company. During this time, he became acquainted with Duke Kahanamoku and was a member of Hui Nalu, the famed surf club also known as “The Beach Boys of Waikiki”.
In late November, 1941, at the age of 19, Johnson left Honolulu to visit his eldest brother (Eddie) in Fort Meyers, Florida. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor occurred during this trip and he would not return to Hawaii until twenty-five years later in 1966.
Johnson enlisted in the Army Air Corps and received preferential status stemming from his ROTC training during high school. Johnson was initially assigned as a "supply man" to the 109th Observation Squadron of the 367th Group from St. Paul, Minnesota. After brief stops at bases and compounds in Biloxi (Mississippi), Alexander (Louisiana), Trenton (New Jersey) and Fort Dix, Johnson embarked the Queen Mary in New York harbor and crossed the Atlantic to England within a month of enlisting. He first entered Europe as a private first class (PFC) and was promoted to corporal within four months.
After stops at RAF bases in Newbury, Shrewsbury and Coldchester, the Air Corps formed the 100th Wing in Bournemouth and Johnson was promoted to Sergeant. The unit settled in Headcorn and Johnson ran supplies for RAF missions to North Africa prior to the naval invasion of Normandy.
It was during this time that Johnson met and married the love of his life, Edith Brenda Davidge from Shrewsbury, England. They were married on May 10, 1944 and his good friend, William Smith (another GI), stood as his best man.
Johnson landed on Omaha Beach on June 9, 1944 (D+3) and quickly regrouped with his unit at St. Mere Eglise. Now a member of the ATC (Air Transport Command), Johnson would run supply missions between England and France supporting General Patton's 3rd Army push to St. Lo and Reims.
Johnson's C-47 aircraft developed engine trouble and crashed during a routine supply mission between western France and Liverpool, killing William Smith. Ironically, Smith and Johnson had switched seats on the C-47 only minutes before the crash. After a lengthy recovery and return to service, Johnson was relieved of duty during the trek to what would become the "Battle of the Bulge". He declined the Purple Heart for personal reasons.
Following his re-introduction to life in the United States, Johnson settled in Tampa, Florida with Eddie (Wally's brother) and Lucille (Eddie's wife). It would take another two and one half years before the U.S. government would allow Brenda to join her husband stateside.
Wally and Brenda first settled in Phoenix, Arizona and opened a restaurant they named the "Aloha Malt Shop" that featured malts, shakes, breakfast and homemade pies. The couple relocated to Riverside, California after an electrical fire destroyed the malt shop. They welcomed their first-born child, Geraldine Leigh Johnson in 1950.
In 1952, the couple relocated to San Bernardino, California and welcomed their second-born child, Von Wilder Johnson, in 1954.
Johnson worked for Pioneer Rug Company in San Bernardino as a carpet installer during the 1950's and opened WALLY'S CARPET SERVICE in the early 1960's. He would guide and grow this business until his retirement in the early 1990's. The company that bears his name is still in operation at 26007 Baseline Avenue in San Bernardino.
Johnson was Exalted Ruler of the San Bernardino Elks Lodge #836 from 1969-1970 and was active in the Santa Barbara Elks Lodge #613 until his death.
Wally Johnson is survived by his wife Brenda, his daughter Gerri (and Steven Laguette) and son Von (and Pamela Johnson). Among his ten brothers and sisters, Wally is survived by Agnes (94), Laurie (90), Thelma (84) and Josie (83). Surviving grand-children are Robyn Wilder Laguette, Jaime Michele (and Spencer Stevens), Janelle Alan Laguette, Mallory Wilder Johnson and Samantha Elizabeth Johnson.
There will be no service at the request of the deceased, and his remains will be placed in a location of his choosing.
What a guy! / Libby Russler (friend of Von and family )
Now we understand more of why Von is the amazing guy he is. Thank you so much for sharing Wally's life story with us. Clearly you were all lucky to share his life with him. We send love and hugs to all.
Libby, Jon, and Isaac
Quite a guy / Dave Linck (Friend)
As a friend of Von's since the early 1970s, I was privileged to know his parents throughout four decades. Each time I saw Wally, he made me feel at ease immediately with his ready sense of humor and no-nonsense approach to the world. He was a true pu...
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A Hero, really / Dan Linck (Von's Friend )
I had the good fortune to know Wally from my college years onward. I found him kind and engaging, colorful, irascible, wily and tremendously likable. Maybe because he reminded my of my favorite grandfather from the oil fields of Oklakhoma, in that he...
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Condolence message / Goldie Whitfield/Osborne/Le-ase (cousin)
Our Love and Prayers to Brenda and family. My Mother was the daughter of Leola Johnson Alderman. She was a cousin to Wally.
May God bless and comfort each of you,
Goldie Whitfield/Osborne Lease
Celebrating Life / Terry Dolph (Family Friend )
They don't make men like Wally anymore. Hard working, humble, honest, and proud to have served his country in WWII. My father passed away last month and I know what this loss means to the Johnson family. On behalf of our family we send yo...
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A Good Man.... / Keith Chambers (Friend of his son Von )Read >>
Our Condolences upon your loss / Hoppy Chandler (Friend of Son )Read >>
Tributes and Condolences
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