Mr. William Phillip Johnson's Obituary
Mr. William Phillip Johnson age 77 of Boca Raton, Florida passed away peacefully on March 3, 2015 after a valiant battle with cancer. Mr. Johnson was born in Booth Memorial Hospital, Covington, Kentucky on December 18, 1937 to his parents, Mr. William Shelby Johnson and Mrs. Mariam Wilmetta Johnson. He attended Holmes High School in Covington, Kentucky with High Honors, including being on the National Honor Society. After graduating from Holmes High School, he attended the University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio from 1956 until 1960, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physics. During his ROTC years at U.C., he was a member of U.C.'s Award Winning "Kitty Hawk Precision Drill Team. In his Senior year at U.C., ROTC Cadet Johnson was awarded membership into the prestigious Arnold Air Society, and rose to the Cadet Rank of Lieutenant Colonel. In 1960 Mr. Johnson was Commissioned into the United States Air Force as a 2nd Lieutenant and was enrolled at the University of Michigan as part of the USAF's Graduate Study Program that was available at that time. Lt. Johnson continued his studies in Advanced Physics into June, 1961. His first active duty station was at US Air Force Base Headquaters Balistic Missle Division (ARDC) Air Research Development Command in Los Angeles, CA where he advanced to the rank of 1st Lieutenant. While stationed at the Air Force Base in Los Angeles, California, William met and married the love of his life Irene Renee Fisher, where she was also working as an Administrative Secretary at the Aeorspace Corporation at El Segundo, California. During his tenure from 1963 through 1967 in the United States Air Force he enrolled in the National Aviation Academy and became a flight engineer while stationed in El Segundo, California at UCLA. Then he continued on with his Engineering Career from 1967 until 1975 working with TRW in Redondo Beach, California (Note- Now known as Northrop Grumman) as a Systems Engineer. In 1968 he obtained his FAA Pilots License and flew as a Commercial Pilot until 1979, where he lived near Hawthorne/Torrance Airport. William during his time as a Commercial Pilot also worked as a Contract Engineer at TRW Systems in the Redondo Beach, California area from 1975 through 2000. In 2001 Mr. Johnson retired and relocated from his home in Redondo Beach, California to his new home in Boca Raton, Florida. But being the type of man that William was he could not just settle completely down and so he began a career in the Security Industry working for the Palm Beach Post as a Security Officer in 2002. From 2002 through 2004 he began volunteer work as a Police Volunteer in Boca Raton, Florida and from 2003 until present he was a Community Emergency Response Team Member (CERT Volunteer) in Boca Raton, Florida. From 2004 through 2006 he was a HOA Security Officer in Boca Raton, Florida and from 2006 until present he worked with the G4S Security Company (Note- A subsidiary of the Wackenhut Corporation) as a Security Officer in Boca Raton, Florida, where he was awarded numerous awards and citations for his outstanding job performance in the line of duty. I am quite sure had Mr. Johnson been able to overcome his health issues, he would have continued to work and prosper in whatever endeavor he may have chosen to pursue because of his strength of character and formidable will to survive despite the odds laid before him. Ever since he took his baptismal blessing in the Burlington Baptist Church in Burlington, Kentucky, William continued to profess and practice his Baptist Faith forever thanking his Lord and Maker for all of the good gifts that had been laid upon his table. William has been summoned home to meet the Great and Almighty Architect of the Universe and he will use his talents, God given gifts and God's resources to make Heaven a better place in the sight of God. He was greeted at Heaven's Gate by his step-son, Dana Patrick Harty who has been waiting for his arrival since September 3, 2014. William will be forever loved and honored by his loving and devoted wife of fifty three years, Irene Renee Johnson and his admired brother, James Daniels Johnson and wife, Joan and a host of close friends and business acquaintances. A Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 AM, Tuesday, March 17, 2015 at the South Florida National Cemetery, 6500 South State Road 7, Lake Worth, Florida 33449, (561) 649-6489 with the United States Air Force presenting Military Honors to the family. Those planning expressions of sympathy are asked to consider donating to the Disabled American Veterans (DAV Chapter #42), 7305 North Military Trail 1A-354, West Palm Beach, Florida 33410, Phone: 561-422-8312 or to donate online: ( http://www.dav.org/ ) Palm Beach Memorial Park Funeral Home, 3691 Seacrest Boulevard, Lantana, Florida 33462, (561) 586-1237 in charge of the professional care and arrangements for Mr. William Phillip Johnson. Online condolences can be shared at: www.palmbeachmemorial.com.
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