David Le Roy Johnson, Jr.

Flying into the Wild Blue Yonder... 

                                                                     No longer by our side; always in our hearts. 

David Le Roy Johnson Jr. 

17 March 1939 - 4 May 2026 

David was born in Gouverneur, New York to David Le Roy Johnson Sr. and Mary Matilda “Tillie” Johnson on March 17,1939. His parents were lifelong residents of the small village. He was the oldest child of three: his younger sisters were Sandra (Drake) and Melanie (LaVack). He was a mischievous child and loved to play pranks on his sister Sandy. Some of these included nailing shoes to the floor and cutting holes in the wall to hide his treasures. As a child he worked on his uncle's farm, because he was family, and as he said, "that's what family does." He graduated from Gouverneur High School in 1958. 

He followed in his father's footsteps, joining the Air Force that same year. He did his basic training at Shepherd AFB from August of 1958 to February of 1959. He began his first enlistment in the military with the Air Force’s Strategic Air Command (SAC) at Forbes AFB in Topeka Kansas, serving in multiple classified assignments during the cold war. In July of 1958 while working a second job in a local restaurant making pizzas, he met the love of his life Rita Ice. After serving a 4-1/2 year enlistment in SAC, he decided to get out of the military and return to his hometown, where he went to work in a paper factory. He realized that small-town life was not for him, and reenlisted in the Air Force in September of 1962; he was posted to Eglin AFB, Florida, where he served as an Aircraft Electrician. At Christmas, Rita and Dave exchanged presents long-distance and opened them over the phone. In the center of an electric cooking pot, Rita found a second package, which concealed a small box. Inside the box was an engagement ring. Dave asked Rita to marry him on Christmas Day; they were married on April 20,1963. 

The young married couple moved to Eglin AFB, acquired their first dachshund, Duchess, and in 1964, nine months and one day later (according to her aunts), Monique was born. Dave received orders to deploy to Vietnam, where he served as an Aircraft Electrician in the 34th Tactical Group, Bien Hoa AB, Republic of Vietnam, from July 1964 to July 1965. When Dave returned from his tour in Vietnam, the young family moved to Suffolk County AFB on Long Island, NY, where he continued to serve in the USAF as an Aircraft Electrician. Their second daughter Michele, was born on Long Island in August 1966. 

In February of 1967, Dave was ordered to the 89th Presidential FMS Squadron at Andrews AFB, Maryland, and became part of the team that maintained Air Force One for Presidents Johnson, Nixon, and Ford. He served in the Presidential Squadron until July of 1976; during that time, Mariel was born in 1969, and David was born in 1974. He received orders for remote duty in Iceland and was stationed at Keflavik NAS from September of 1974 to June 1975. While in Iceland he took on the additional duties of shop chief. 

After returning from Iceland he drove his young family cross country to Cannon AFB, Clovis, New Mexico, for his next duty assignment as a shop chief with the 27th FMS, working on F-111s. In June 1977, he took his family with him to RAF Lakenheath, England, where he served with the Tactical Fighter Squadron. After three years at Lakenheath, the family left England in 1980, when Dave was transferred to his last duty station at McChord AFB, Washington. At McChord, Dave served as Branch Chief of the electrical, battery, and maintenance shops in the 62nd AMS. Master Sergeant Dave Johnson retired from the Air Force in May 1984 with numerous commendations, decorations, medals, and awards. 

Dave enjoyed building, creating and flying reproduction model airplanes and had an Ace R/C dealership for many years. He rarely built from a kit, and loved building all his model aircraft from blueprints. 

After the military he took several interim jobs before joining the Boeing Aircraft Company and worked as an Aircraft Cockpit Electrician on the 737 flight line at Boeing’s Renton plant, until his retirement from Boeing ten years later. 

He loved dachshunds and had many over the years. He had a special connection with all of them. He is survived by Mischief and Honeybee. 

He was an active member of Our Lady Queen of Heaven Parish in Spanaway, WA, and served the parish for over 40 years in many capacities.

 During his retirement Dave and Rita surprised everyone by buying an RV and becoming snowbirds, traveling back and forth across the country and meeting up with friends in the Lewis and Clark RV Club in Palm Desert California. They visited 48 of the 50 States in their travels. 

Dave is preceded in death by his mother Mary Matilda (Tillie) Johnson, his father David LeRoy Johnson Sr., his sister Sandra Drake, twin grandbabies Rose and Roy Britton and granddaughter Hannah Louise Fumiko Takemori (Russ). 

He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Rita Johnson, his sister Melanie LaVack, Daughters Monique D. Russ (Daniel), Michele L. Britton (Dave), Mariel L. Johnson (Lewis), David Le Roy Johnson III (Stephanie), Grandchildren Kane Russ, Dylan Russ, Andrea Britton, Joshua Britton, Audrey Britton, Antonio Valles (Kenzie), Jason Wawrykowicz, Kai Johnson, Owen Johnson, and Great Grandchildren Raleigh and Ryker David Valles (middle name after Papa). 

Service Details: Viewing Tuesday, May 26th 11:00-3:00 p.m. Gaffney Funeral Home, 1002 S. Yakima Ave., Tacoma, WA 98405. 

Rosary 9:30 a.m. Funeral Mass 10:00a.m. Wednesday, May 27th, Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church, 14601 A Street S., Tacoma, WA 98444. Reception after mass in the parish hall. 

Graveside Interment 11:00a.m. Thursday, May 28th, Calvary Cemetery, 5212 S. 70th St., Tacoma, WA 98467. 

In lieu of flowers please donate to these organizations: 

Our Lady Queen of Heaven https://www.olqhcc.com/donate ; 

Paralyzed Veterans of America https://secure.pva.org/

The family gratefully thanks Jacki Skipworth, Kristi Fairbanks, and the whole Franciscan Hospice Team that cared so tenderly for our father and husband, and the Veterans Home Instead Team.