Clifford Harold Johnson died on 1-22-22 at the age of 97 in Houston, Texas from congestive heart failure and COVID pneumonia. He was born on 8-6-24 in Peoria, Illinois to Walter and Selma Becker Johnson. His father was an Electrical Engineer for Illinois Bell Telephone Co and his mother was a national consultant for Tupperware who started the Dallas Tupperware Distributorship. Cliff grew up building Soap Box Derby cars and won the Chicago Derby in 1940 (second largest race in the country). He competed at Nationals shortly thereafter. Cliff played piano and was active in Boy Scouts as a youth, achieving the rank of Eagle Scout in 1940.
Cliff received a Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University in 1945. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) fraternity and he served in the Navy V-12 for his last two years of college. He then went to Midshipmen's School at Columbia University in NYC to become a commissioned officer in the Navy. After becoming an Ensign, he went to Diesel Engine School at Cornell University. He served his first Tour of Duty as an Engineering Officer at the Naval Net Depot in Tiburon, CA. When released from active duty, he earned his Masters in Industrial Engineering at Purdue in 1947. While at Purdue, he met and married the love of his life, Inez Jean Parker, in 1948. She was finishing her undergraduate degree in Home Economics at Purdue.
For his first job, Cliff worked as a Sales Rep for Caterpillar in Peoria. When promoted to Caterpillar's Engine Representative for Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico, the couple moved to Abilene, Texas. He realized that his customers would be better served if Caterpillar could offer an engine using the more plentiful and less costly natural gas instead of only diesel fuel. He proposed this to his superiors and it was initially dismissed. Then, while serving as an officer in the Korean War, the president of Caterpillar contacted him for a copy of his proposal, and the natural gas engine was subsequently developed for Caterpillar. Cliff's original proposal was acquired for the Heritage Collection at the Caterpillar Museum in Peoria in 2020.
Cliff was Chief Engineering Officer and 2nd in command of the USS Incredible Minesweeper (AM-249) during the Korean War. He was known for successfully navigating his ship through a hurricane and his ability to precisely dock it. After the war, Cliff was promoted to a Lieutenant in the Naval Reserve, but he resigned his commission in the Navy to live a civilian life. He accepted the job of General Sales Manager of Mustang Caterpillar, the Caterpillar dealership in Houston. The company only had 78 employees at the time, but Cliff saw the potential for this dealership to grow. During his tenure, he built the Engine division from the ground up, such that an additional
Vice President was required to manage the expansion. He eventually retired as Vice President and General Manager over Sales, Parts, and Service.
Cliff and Inez raised their 2 sons and 1 daughter in Rustling Pines off of Memorial Drive in Houston. Cliff coached both of his sons' baseball teams, leading to Championships in some years. He taught all of his children to sail, hunt, and fish. His children grew up driving a tractor with him while clearing brush on their maternal grandparent's farm in Indiana, and his grandkids drove with him in his golf cart in his senior years. He instilled his love of racing in his children by taking them to the Indianapolis 500 and other auto races. After raising their kids, Cliff and Inez became avid golfers. He was proud of his wife's 7 handicap and all of the first place trophies she brought home from various golf tournaments. They became Golf Rules Officials together and enjoyed officiating tournaments at Champions Golf Club in Houston. They played bridge, traveled internationally, and loved the Houston Astros. They enjoyed many wonderful friends and, above all, their greatest pride and joy was their children and grandchildren.
Cliff is predeceased by his wife Inez who died of cancer in 2002. He is survived by his only sibling, sister Dr. Beatt Matheny of Fort Worth and her family, children including son Bruce Alan Johnson (Randie) of Spring, TX, son Gary Brian Johnson (Katie) of San Angelo, TX, and daughter Dr. Linda Johnson Jackson (Jeffrey) of Sugar Land, TX. Grandchildren include Shawn Johnson (Beth) and great-granddaughter Romy of St. Helena, California, Jay Johnson of Conroe, TX, Joe Johnson of Houston, Molly Johnson Turk (TJ) and great-grandson Parker (due in May) of San Angelo, Dr. Gregory Jackson of Austin, TX, and Elizabeth Jackson Kelley (Ryan) of Austin. His family will greatly miss his interesting stories, integrity, dedication as a family man, and holiday traditions.
Cliff was a man of quiet but strong faith. He believed in predestination and the afterlife, so he was at peace with death throughout his life. He recently expressed this peace in anticipation of his death, adding that it was the same calm he felt in the Navy when he thought his ship would capsize during the hurricane. It is fitting that his Celebration of Life funeral will be at his home church, John Wesley United Methodist Church, 5830 Bermuda Dunes Dr, Houston, TX 77069, on 1-29-22 at 10:30 a.m. The service can be watched virtually on the church website. Visitation will be at the church beforehand from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. After the funeral, there will be a private burial with military honors. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to a charity for veterans of your choice.
Klein Funeral Home
Cliff received a Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University in 1945. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) fraternity and he served in the Navy V-12 for his last two years of college. He then went to Midshipmen's School at Columbia University in NYC to become a commissioned officer in the Navy. After becoming an Ensign, he went to Diesel Engine School at Cornell University. He served his first Tour of Duty as an Engineering Officer at the Naval Net Depot in Tiburon, CA. When released from active duty, he earned his Masters in Industrial Engineering at Purdue in 1947. While at Purdue, he met and married the love of his life, Inez Jean Parker, in 1948. She was finishing her undergraduate degree in Home Economics at Purdue.
For his first job, Cliff worked as a Sales Rep for Caterpillar in Peoria. When promoted to Caterpillar's Engine Representative for Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico, the couple moved to Abilene, Texas. He realized that his customers would be better served if Caterpillar could offer an engine using the more plentiful and less costly natural gas instead of only diesel fuel. He proposed this to his superiors and it was initially dismissed. Then, while serving as an officer in the Korean War, the president of Caterpillar contacted him for a copy of his proposal, and the natural gas engine was subsequently developed for Caterpillar. Cliff's original proposal was acquired for the Heritage Collection at the Caterpillar Museum in Peoria in 2020.
Cliff was Chief Engineering Officer and 2nd in command of the USS Incredible Minesweeper (AM-249) during the Korean War. He was known for successfully navigating his ship through a hurricane and his ability to precisely dock it. After the war, Cliff was promoted to a Lieutenant in the Naval Reserve, but he resigned his commission in the Navy to live a civilian life. He accepted the job of General Sales Manager of Mustang Caterpillar, the Caterpillar dealership in Houston. The company only had 78 employees at the time, but Cliff saw the potential for this dealership to grow. During his tenure, he built the Engine division from the ground up, such that an additional
Vice President was required to manage the expansion. He eventually retired as Vice President and General Manager over Sales, Parts, and Service.
Cliff and Inez raised their 2 sons and 1 daughter in Rustling Pines off of Memorial Drive in Houston. Cliff coached both of his sons' baseball teams, leading to Championships in some years. He taught all of his children to sail, hunt, and fish. His children grew up driving a tractor with him while clearing brush on their maternal grandparent's farm in Indiana, and his grandkids drove with him in his golf cart in his senior years. He instilled his love of racing in his children by taking them to the Indianapolis 500 and other auto races. After raising their kids, Cliff and Inez became avid golfers. He was proud of his wife's 7 handicap and all of the first place trophies she brought home from various golf tournaments. They became Golf Rules Officials together and enjoyed officiating tournaments at Champions Golf Club in Houston. They played bridge, traveled internationally, and loved the Houston Astros. They enjoyed many wonderful friends and, above all, their greatest pride and joy was their children and grandchildren.
Cliff is predeceased by his wife Inez who died of cancer in 2002. He is survived by his only sibling, sister Dr. Beatt Matheny of Fort Worth and her family, children including son Bruce Alan Johnson (Randie) of Spring, TX, son Gary Brian Johnson (Katie) of San Angelo, TX, and daughter Dr. Linda Johnson Jackson (Jeffrey) of Sugar Land, TX. Grandchildren include Shawn Johnson (Beth) and great-granddaughter Romy of St. Helena, California, Jay Johnson of Conroe, TX, Joe Johnson of Houston, Molly Johnson Turk (TJ) and great-grandson Parker (due in May) of San Angelo, Dr. Gregory Jackson of Austin, TX, and Elizabeth Jackson Kelley (Ryan) of Austin. His family will greatly miss his interesting stories, integrity, dedication as a family man, and holiday traditions.
Cliff was a man of quiet but strong faith. He believed in predestination and the afterlife, so he was at peace with death throughout his life. He recently expressed this peace in anticipation of his death, adding that it was the same calm he felt in the Navy when he thought his ship would capsize during the hurricane. It is fitting that his Celebration of Life funeral will be at his home church, John Wesley United Methodist Church, 5830 Bermuda Dunes Dr, Houston, TX 77069, on 1-29-22 at 10:30 a.m. The service can be watched virtually on the church website. Visitation will be at the church beforehand from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. After the funeral, there will be a private burial with military honors. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to a charity for veterans of your choice.
Klein Funeral Home
Clifford Harold Johnson died on 1-22-22 at the age of 97 in Houston, Texas from congestive heart failure and COVID pneumonia. He was born on 8-6-24 in Peoria, Illinois to Walter and Selma Becker Johnson. His father was an Electrical Engineer for Illinois Bell Telephone Co and his mother was a national consultant for Tupperware who started the Dallas Tupperware Distributorship. Cliff grew up building Soap Box Derby cars and won the Chicago Derby in 1940 (second largest race in the country). He competed at Nationals shortly thereafter. Cliff played piano and was active in Boy Scouts as a youth, achieving the rank of Eagle Scout in 1940.
Cliff received a Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University in 1945. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) fraternity and he served in the Navy V-12 for his last two years of college. He then went to Midshipmen's School at Columbia University in NYC to become a commissioned officer in the Navy. After becoming an Ensign, he went to Diesel Engine School at Cornell University. He served his first Tour of Duty as an Engineering Officer at the Naval Net Depot in Tiburon, CA. When released from active duty, he earned his Masters in Industrial Engineering at Purdue in 1947. While at Purdue, he met and married the love of his life, Inez Jean Parker, in 1948. She was finishing her undergraduate degree in Home Economics at Purdue.
For his first job, Cliff worked as a Sales Rep for Caterpillar in Peoria. When promoted to Caterpillar's Engine Representative for Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico, the couple moved to Abilene, Texas. He realized that his customers would be better served if Caterpillar could offer an engine using the more plentiful and less costly natural gas instead of only diesel fuel. He proposed this to his superiors and it was initially dismissed. Then, while serving as an officer in the Korean War, the president of Caterpillar contacted him for a copy of his proposal, and the natural gas engine was subsequently developed for Caterpillar. Cliff's original proposal was acquired for the Heritage Collection at the Caterpillar Museum in Peoria in 2020.
Cliff was Chief Engineering Officer and 2nd in command of the USS Incredible Minesweeper (AM-249) during the Korean War. He was known for successfully navigating his ship through a hurricane and his ability to precisely dock it. After the war, Cliff was promoted to a Lieutenant in the Naval Reserve, but he resigned his commission in the Navy to live a civilian life. He accepted the job of General Sales Manager of Mustang Caterpillar, the Caterpillar dealership in Houston. The company only had 78 employees at the time, but Cliff saw the potential for this dealership to grow. During his tenure, he built the Engine division from the ground up, such that an additional
Vice President was required to manage the expansion. He eventually retired as Vice President and General Manager over Sales, Parts, and Service.
Cliff and Inez raised their 2 sons and 1 daughter in Rustling Pines off of Memorial Drive in Houston. Cliff coached both of his sons' baseball teams, leading to Championships in some years. He taught all of his children to sail, hunt, and fish. His children grew up driving a tractor with him while clearing brush on their maternal grandparent's farm in Indiana, and his grandkids drove with him in his golf cart in his senior years. He instilled his love of racing in his children by taking them to the Indianapolis 500 and other auto races. After raising their kids, Cliff and Inez became avid golfers. He was proud of his wife's 7 handicap and all of the first place trophies she brought home from various golf tournaments. They became Golf Rules Officials together and enjoyed officiating tournaments at Champions Golf Club in Houston. They played bridge, traveled internationally, and loved the Houston Astros. They enjoyed many wonderful friends and, above all, their greatest pride and joy was their children and grandchildren.
Cliff is predeceased by his wife Inez who died of cancer in 2002. He is survived by his only sibling, sister Dr. Beatt Matheny of Fort Worth and her family, children including son Bruce Alan Johnson (Randie) of Spring, TX, son Gary Brian Johnson (Katie) of San Angelo, TX, and daughter Dr. Linda Johnson Jackson (Jeffrey) of Sugar Land, TX. Grandchildren include Shawn Johnson (Beth) and great-granddaughter Romy of St. Helena, California, Jay Johnson of Conroe, TX, Joe Johnson of Houston, Molly Johnson Turk (TJ) and great-grandson Parker (due in May) of San Angelo, Dr. Gregory Jackson of Austin, TX, and Elizabeth Jackson Kelley (Ryan) of Austin. His family will greatly miss his interesting stories, integrity, dedication as a family man, and holiday traditions.
Cliff was a man of quiet but strong faith. He believed in predestination and the afterlife, so he was at peace with death throughout his life. He recently expressed this peace in anticipation of his death, adding that it was the same calm he felt in the Navy when he thought his ship would capsize during the hurricane. It is fitting that his Celebration of Life funeral will be at his home church, John Wesley United Methodist Church, 5830 Bermuda Dunes Dr, Houston, TX 77069, on 1-29-22 at 10:30 a.m. The service can be watched virtually on the church website. Visitation will be at the church beforehand from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. After the funeral, there will be a private burial with military honors. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to a charity for veterans of your choice.
Klein Funeral Home
Cliff received a Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University in 1945. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) fraternity and he served in the Navy V-12 for his last two years of college. He then went to Midshipmen's School at Columbia University in NYC to become a commissioned officer in the Navy. After becoming an Ensign, he went to Diesel Engine School at Cornell University. He served his first Tour of Duty as an Engineering Officer at the Naval Net Depot in Tiburon, CA. When released from active duty, he earned his Masters in Industrial Engineering at Purdue in 1947. While at Purdue, he met and married the love of his life, Inez Jean Parker, in 1948. She was finishing her undergraduate degree in Home Economics at Purdue.
For his first job, Cliff worked as a Sales Rep for Caterpillar in Peoria. When promoted to Caterpillar's Engine Representative for Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico, the couple moved to Abilene, Texas. He realized that his customers would be better served if Caterpillar could offer an engine using the more plentiful and less costly natural gas instead of only diesel fuel. He proposed this to his superiors and it was initially dismissed. Then, while serving as an officer in the Korean War, the president of Caterpillar contacted him for a copy of his proposal, and the natural gas engine was subsequently developed for Caterpillar. Cliff's original proposal was acquired for the Heritage Collection at the Caterpillar Museum in Peoria in 2020.
Cliff was Chief Engineering Officer and 2nd in command of the USS Incredible Minesweeper (AM-249) during the Korean War. He was known for successfully navigating his ship through a hurricane and his ability to precisely dock it. After the war, Cliff was promoted to a Lieutenant in the Naval Reserve, but he resigned his commission in the Navy to live a civilian life. He accepted the job of General Sales Manager of Mustang Caterpillar, the Caterpillar dealership in Houston. The company only had 78 employees at the time, but Cliff saw the potential for this dealership to grow. During his tenure, he built the Engine division from the ground up, such that an additional
Vice President was required to manage the expansion. He eventually retired as Vice President and General Manager over Sales, Parts, and Service.
Cliff and Inez raised their 2 sons and 1 daughter in Rustling Pines off of Memorial Drive in Houston. Cliff coached both of his sons' baseball teams, leading to Championships in some years. He taught all of his children to sail, hunt, and fish. His children grew up driving a tractor with him while clearing brush on their maternal grandparent's farm in Indiana, and his grandkids drove with him in his golf cart in his senior years. He instilled his love of racing in his children by taking them to the Indianapolis 500 and other auto races. After raising their kids, Cliff and Inez became avid golfers. He was proud of his wife's 7 handicap and all of the first place trophies she brought home from various golf tournaments. They became Golf Rules Officials together and enjoyed officiating tournaments at Champions Golf Club in Houston. They played bridge, traveled internationally, and loved the Houston Astros. They enjoyed many wonderful friends and, above all, their greatest pride and joy was their children and grandchildren.
Cliff is predeceased by his wife Inez who died of cancer in 2002. He is survived by his only sibling, sister Dr. Beatt Matheny of Fort Worth and her family, children including son Bruce Alan Johnson (Randie) of Spring, TX, son Gary Brian Johnson (Katie) of San Angelo, TX, and daughter Dr. Linda Johnson Jackson (Jeffrey) of Sugar Land, TX. Grandchildren include Shawn Johnson (Beth) and great-granddaughter Romy of St. Helena, California, Jay Johnson of Conroe, TX, Joe Johnson of Houston, Molly Johnson Turk (TJ) and great-grandson Parker (due in May) of San Angelo, Dr. Gregory Jackson of Austin, TX, and Elizabeth Jackson Kelley (Ryan) of Austin. His family will greatly miss his interesting stories, integrity, dedication as a family man, and holiday traditions.
Cliff was a man of quiet but strong faith. He believed in predestination and the afterlife, so he was at peace with death throughout his life. He recently expressed this peace in anticipation of his death, adding that it was the same calm he felt in the Navy when he thought his ship would capsize during the hurricane. It is fitting that his Celebration of Life funeral will be at his home church, John Wesley United Methodist Church, 5830 Bermuda Dunes Dr, Houston, TX 77069, on 1-29-22 at 10:30 a.m. The service can be watched virtually on the church website. Visitation will be at the church beforehand from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. After the funeral, there will be a private burial with military honors. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to a charity for veterans of your choice.
Klein Funeral Home
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
