Ralph Walter Johnson, a 30 year Navy veteran who rose from the enlisted ranks to retire as a Commander, passed away of natural causes on January 15, 2022, at the age of 92.
He was born on November 23, 1929, and raised on a farm in Bradford, Massachusetts, the last surviving member of his immediate family: father and mother Fred and Elizabeth, sisters Marion and Doris, dog Princey and cat Henry Inkspot. His home didn't have electricity or running water - some of his daily chores included retrieving water from the well and tending to the cows.
He dropped out of high school at 17 to join the Navy, where one of his first assignments was serving in the Korean War. Blessed with a sharp mind and good health, Ralph obtained his GED while in the service. He rose to the top of the enlisted ranks and was selected for Officer Candidate School and Medical Service Corp school, both of which he completed highly ranked in his class.
After becoming an officer, he attended college part-time for seven or eight years, at nights and weekends, finally obtaining his college degree from San Diego State in the mid-60's. Some of his duty spots included Portsmouth, NH, Norfolk VA, Washington, D.C., Keflavik, Iceland and San Diego, CA. He retired in San Diego as a Commander in 1977. He then had a second career for 15 years as a Hospital Administrator in the UC Medical system where he started and managed a Burn Center and served as manager of the Department of Surgery.
After full retirement, he enjoyed Dixieland Jazz events, bowling and the friends he met through that activity, and traveling with his wife in their custom-built van. Yosemite was a favorite spot. He was a humble and gentle man with a good sense of humor and a very hard worker who dedicated his life to family and country.
He leaves behind his wife of 69 years, Delores Mae (Olson) Johnson, who he met at a dance featuring Les Brown and His Band of Renown at the Hollywood Palladium when both were in their early 20's, two children, Fred Martin Johnson II and Susan Gail Johnson, and various cousins, nieces and nephews.
A funeral service with full military honors is scheduled for Monday, February 14, 10:00am, at Miramar National Cemetery.
Miramar Memorial Services
He was born on November 23, 1929, and raised on a farm in Bradford, Massachusetts, the last surviving member of his immediate family: father and mother Fred and Elizabeth, sisters Marion and Doris, dog Princey and cat Henry Inkspot. His home didn't have electricity or running water - some of his daily chores included retrieving water from the well and tending to the cows.
He dropped out of high school at 17 to join the Navy, where one of his first assignments was serving in the Korean War. Blessed with a sharp mind and good health, Ralph obtained his GED while in the service. He rose to the top of the enlisted ranks and was selected for Officer Candidate School and Medical Service Corp school, both of which he completed highly ranked in his class.
After becoming an officer, he attended college part-time for seven or eight years, at nights and weekends, finally obtaining his college degree from San Diego State in the mid-60's. Some of his duty spots included Portsmouth, NH, Norfolk VA, Washington, D.C., Keflavik, Iceland and San Diego, CA. He retired in San Diego as a Commander in 1977. He then had a second career for 15 years as a Hospital Administrator in the UC Medical system where he started and managed a Burn Center and served as manager of the Department of Surgery.
After full retirement, he enjoyed Dixieland Jazz events, bowling and the friends he met through that activity, and traveling with his wife in their custom-built van. Yosemite was a favorite spot. He was a humble and gentle man with a good sense of humor and a very hard worker who dedicated his life to family and country.
He leaves behind his wife of 69 years, Delores Mae (Olson) Johnson, who he met at a dance featuring Les Brown and His Band of Renown at the Hollywood Palladium when both were in their early 20's, two children, Fred Martin Johnson II and Susan Gail Johnson, and various cousins, nieces and nephews.
A funeral service with full military honors is scheduled for Monday, February 14, 10:00am, at Miramar National Cemetery.
Miramar Memorial Services
Ralph Walter Johnson, a 30 year Navy veteran who rose from the enlisted ranks to retire as a Commander, passed away of natural causes on January 15, 2022, at the age of 92.
He was born on November 23, 1929, and raised on a farm in Bradford, Massachusetts, the last surviving member of his immediate family: father and mother Fred and Elizabeth, sisters Marion and Doris, dog Princey and cat Henry Inkspot. His home didn't have electricity or running water - some of his daily chores included retrieving water from the well and tending to the cows.
He dropped out of high school at 17 to join the Navy, where one of his first assignments was serving in the Korean War. Blessed with a sharp mind and good health, Ralph obtained his GED while in the service. He rose to the top of the enlisted ranks and was selected for Officer Candidate School and Medical Service Corp school, both of which he completed highly ranked in his class.
After becoming an officer, he attended college part-time for seven or eight years, at nights and weekends, finally obtaining his college degree from San Diego State in the mid-60's. Some of his duty spots included Portsmouth, NH, Norfolk VA, Washington, D.C., Keflavik, Iceland and San Diego, CA. He retired in San Diego as a Commander in 1977. He then had a second career for 15 years as a Hospital Administrator in the UC Medical system where he started and managed a Burn Center and served as manager of the Department of Surgery.
After full retirement, he enjoyed Dixieland Jazz events, bowling and the friends he met through that activity, and traveling with his wife in their custom-built van. Yosemite was a favorite spot. He was a humble and gentle man with a good sense of humor and a very hard worker who dedicated his life to family and country.
He leaves behind his wife of 69 years, Delores Mae (Olson) Johnson, who he met at a dance featuring Les Brown and His Band of Renown at the Hollywood Palladium when both were in their early 20's, two children, Fred Martin Johnson II and Susan Gail Johnson, and various cousins, nieces and nephews.
A funeral service with full military honors is scheduled for Monday, February 14, 10:00am, at Miramar National Cemetery.
Miramar Memorial Services
He was born on November 23, 1929, and raised on a farm in Bradford, Massachusetts, the last surviving member of his immediate family: father and mother Fred and Elizabeth, sisters Marion and Doris, dog Princey and cat Henry Inkspot. His home didn't have electricity or running water - some of his daily chores included retrieving water from the well and tending to the cows.
He dropped out of high school at 17 to join the Navy, where one of his first assignments was serving in the Korean War. Blessed with a sharp mind and good health, Ralph obtained his GED while in the service. He rose to the top of the enlisted ranks and was selected for Officer Candidate School and Medical Service Corp school, both of which he completed highly ranked in his class.
After becoming an officer, he attended college part-time for seven or eight years, at nights and weekends, finally obtaining his college degree from San Diego State in the mid-60's. Some of his duty spots included Portsmouth, NH, Norfolk VA, Washington, D.C., Keflavik, Iceland and San Diego, CA. He retired in San Diego as a Commander in 1977. He then had a second career for 15 years as a Hospital Administrator in the UC Medical system where he started and managed a Burn Center and served as manager of the Department of Surgery.
After full retirement, he enjoyed Dixieland Jazz events, bowling and the friends he met through that activity, and traveling with his wife in their custom-built van. Yosemite was a favorite spot. He was a humble and gentle man with a good sense of humor and a very hard worker who dedicated his life to family and country.
He leaves behind his wife of 69 years, Delores Mae (Olson) Johnson, who he met at a dance featuring Les Brown and His Band of Renown at the Hollywood Palladium when both were in their early 20's, two children, Fred Martin Johnson II and Susan Gail Johnson, and various cousins, nieces and nephews.
A funeral service with full military honors is scheduled for Monday, February 14, 10:00am, at Miramar National Cemetery.
Miramar Memorial Services
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CDR US NAVY
KOREA, VIETNAM
Gravesite Details
Date of interment Feb. 14, 2022
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