It is with great sadness that the family of Walter Francis Johnson announces his passing on June 8, 2022, at the age of 76. Walter died peacefully of natural causes with his family by his side.
Walter was born January 5, 1946, on the former US Navy base, Camp Shoemaker in Alameda, CA, to Dorothy Johnson (née Russell) a WW II Navy WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) and Walter Joseph Johnson, a US Navy Seabee.
Walter grew up in Rockaway Beach, NY surrounded by extended family. He enjoyed daily visits to his aunt and uncle's fishing station located at Holland Pier, where he developed his great love of the water. In 1953, the family moved to Massapequa Park, where he quickly found a crew of friends to race go karts, build box cars, and play war in the Massapequa Park Preserve. When he was a teenager, he worked for a small local record label, thus cementing his lifelong love of music. He graduated from Alfred G. Berner High School in 1964.
Walter followed in his parents' path and enlisted in the U.S. Navy in October 1964. He was selected for the Silent Service and completed scuba training, extensive damage control, nuclear engineering, and shipboard hazard training. He served as an Engineman 2nd class and rescue diver aboard the submarine USS Pickerel SS-524, conducting sensitive operations in support of the U.S. Navy activities during the Vietnam War. He was honorably discharged in October 1970. His awards include the National Defense Service Medal and Vietnam Service Medal.
Upon returning home from Vietnam, Walter met his beloved wife, Claudia Johnson (née Connolly). They married on February 13, 1971. They moved to Oakdale, NY and raised three daughters — his real pride and joy.
Walter joined his father in the Steamfitters Local 638 Union. In April 1974 he qualified as a Journeyman by having served a five-year apprenticeship in accordance with National Standards formulated and approved by the Joint Apprenticeships and Training Committee for the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry. In 2019, Walter celebrated 50 years tenure with the Local 638 Union.
Walter applied his talents in many ways outside of his trade craft. In the early 1970s, he was affectionately known in the neighborhood as "The Water Commissioner" for his efforts in lobbying (and subsequently digging and helping to install the necessary equipment needed for dozens of his neighbors) Suffolk County Water to bring public water service to the area.
Walter is predeceased by his wife, Claudia Johnson (née Connolly) in 2020, and survived by his three children, Frances Fiore (Frank), Erin Johnson Oettinger (Marc) and Alanna Johnson, four grandchildren Enzo, Giovanni, Scarlett, and Bruno, and by his brother, Kevin T. Johnson. He will be greatly missed by his sisters in law and his many nieces and nephews.
A funeral mass will be held on Friday, June 10, 2022 at 10am at St. Lawrence the Martyr Church, 27 Handsome Ave, Sayville, NY, followed by burial at Calverton National Cemetery. A Celebration of Life reception will be held on Sunday, June 12, from 5pm to 9pm at the Irish Coffee Pub, located at 131 Carleton Ave, East Islip, NY.
Walter was born January 5, 1946, on the former US Navy base, Camp Shoemaker in Alameda, CA, to Dorothy Johnson (née Russell) a WW II Navy WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) and Walter Joseph Johnson, a US Navy Seabee.
Walter grew up in Rockaway Beach, NY surrounded by extended family. He enjoyed daily visits to his aunt and uncle's fishing station located at Holland Pier, where he developed his great love of the water. In 1953, the family moved to Massapequa Park, where he quickly found a crew of friends to race go karts, build box cars, and play war in the Massapequa Park Preserve. When he was a teenager, he worked for a small local record label, thus cementing his lifelong love of music. He graduated from Alfred G. Berner High School in 1964.
Walter followed in his parents' path and enlisted in the U.S. Navy in October 1964. He was selected for the Silent Service and completed scuba training, extensive damage control, nuclear engineering, and shipboard hazard training. He served as an Engineman 2nd class and rescue diver aboard the submarine USS Pickerel SS-524, conducting sensitive operations in support of the U.S. Navy activities during the Vietnam War. He was honorably discharged in October 1970. His awards include the National Defense Service Medal and Vietnam Service Medal.
Upon returning home from Vietnam, Walter met his beloved wife, Claudia Johnson (née Connolly). They married on February 13, 1971. They moved to Oakdale, NY and raised three daughters — his real pride and joy.
Walter joined his father in the Steamfitters Local 638 Union. In April 1974 he qualified as a Journeyman by having served a five-year apprenticeship in accordance with National Standards formulated and approved by the Joint Apprenticeships and Training Committee for the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry. In 2019, Walter celebrated 50 years tenure with the Local 638 Union.
Walter applied his talents in many ways outside of his trade craft. In the early 1970s, he was affectionately known in the neighborhood as "The Water Commissioner" for his efforts in lobbying (and subsequently digging and helping to install the necessary equipment needed for dozens of his neighbors) Suffolk County Water to bring public water service to the area.
Walter is predeceased by his wife, Claudia Johnson (née Connolly) in 2020, and survived by his three children, Frances Fiore (Frank), Erin Johnson Oettinger (Marc) and Alanna Johnson, four grandchildren Enzo, Giovanni, Scarlett, and Bruno, and by his brother, Kevin T. Johnson. He will be greatly missed by his sisters in law and his many nieces and nephews.
A funeral mass will be held on Friday, June 10, 2022 at 10am at St. Lawrence the Martyr Church, 27 Handsome Ave, Sayville, NY, followed by burial at Calverton National Cemetery. A Celebration of Life reception will be held on Sunday, June 12, from 5pm to 9pm at the Irish Coffee Pub, located at 131 Carleton Ave, East Islip, NY.
It is with great sadness that the family of Walter Francis Johnson announces his passing on June 8, 2022, at the age of 76. Walter died peacefully of natural causes with his family by his side.
Walter was born January 5, 1946, on the former US Navy base, Camp Shoemaker in Alameda, CA, to Dorothy Johnson (née Russell) a WW II Navy WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) and Walter Joseph Johnson, a US Navy Seabee.
Walter grew up in Rockaway Beach, NY surrounded by extended family. He enjoyed daily visits to his aunt and uncle's fishing station located at Holland Pier, where he developed his great love of the water. In 1953, the family moved to Massapequa Park, where he quickly found a crew of friends to race go karts, build box cars, and play war in the Massapequa Park Preserve. When he was a teenager, he worked for a small local record label, thus cementing his lifelong love of music. He graduated from Alfred G. Berner High School in 1964.
Walter followed in his parents' path and enlisted in the U.S. Navy in October 1964. He was selected for the Silent Service and completed scuba training, extensive damage control, nuclear engineering, and shipboard hazard training. He served as an Engineman 2nd class and rescue diver aboard the submarine USS Pickerel SS-524, conducting sensitive operations in support of the U.S. Navy activities during the Vietnam War. He was honorably discharged in October 1970. His awards include the National Defense Service Medal and Vietnam Service Medal.
Upon returning home from Vietnam, Walter met his beloved wife, Claudia Johnson (née Connolly). They married on February 13, 1971. They moved to Oakdale, NY and raised three daughters — his real pride and joy.
Walter joined his father in the Steamfitters Local 638 Union. In April 1974 he qualified as a Journeyman by having served a five-year apprenticeship in accordance with National Standards formulated and approved by the Joint Apprenticeships and Training Committee for the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry. In 2019, Walter celebrated 50 years tenure with the Local 638 Union.
Walter applied his talents in many ways outside of his trade craft. In the early 1970s, he was affectionately known in the neighborhood as "The Water Commissioner" for his efforts in lobbying (and subsequently digging and helping to install the necessary equipment needed for dozens of his neighbors) Suffolk County Water to bring public water service to the area.
Walter is predeceased by his wife, Claudia Johnson (née Connolly) in 2020, and survived by his three children, Frances Fiore (Frank), Erin Johnson Oettinger (Marc) and Alanna Johnson, four grandchildren Enzo, Giovanni, Scarlett, and Bruno, and by his brother, Kevin T. Johnson. He will be greatly missed by his sisters in law and his many nieces and nephews.
A funeral mass will be held on Friday, June 10, 2022 at 10am at St. Lawrence the Martyr Church, 27 Handsome Ave, Sayville, NY, followed by burial at Calverton National Cemetery. A Celebration of Life reception will be held on Sunday, June 12, from 5pm to 9pm at the Irish Coffee Pub, located at 131 Carleton Ave, East Islip, NY.
Walter was born January 5, 1946, on the former US Navy base, Camp Shoemaker in Alameda, CA, to Dorothy Johnson (née Russell) a WW II Navy WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) and Walter Joseph Johnson, a US Navy Seabee.
Walter grew up in Rockaway Beach, NY surrounded by extended family. He enjoyed daily visits to his aunt and uncle's fishing station located at Holland Pier, where he developed his great love of the water. In 1953, the family moved to Massapequa Park, where he quickly found a crew of friends to race go karts, build box cars, and play war in the Massapequa Park Preserve. When he was a teenager, he worked for a small local record label, thus cementing his lifelong love of music. He graduated from Alfred G. Berner High School in 1964.
Walter followed in his parents' path and enlisted in the U.S. Navy in October 1964. He was selected for the Silent Service and completed scuba training, extensive damage control, nuclear engineering, and shipboard hazard training. He served as an Engineman 2nd class and rescue diver aboard the submarine USS Pickerel SS-524, conducting sensitive operations in support of the U.S. Navy activities during the Vietnam War. He was honorably discharged in October 1970. His awards include the National Defense Service Medal and Vietnam Service Medal.
Upon returning home from Vietnam, Walter met his beloved wife, Claudia Johnson (née Connolly). They married on February 13, 1971. They moved to Oakdale, NY and raised three daughters — his real pride and joy.
Walter joined his father in the Steamfitters Local 638 Union. In April 1974 he qualified as a Journeyman by having served a five-year apprenticeship in accordance with National Standards formulated and approved by the Joint Apprenticeships and Training Committee for the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry. In 2019, Walter celebrated 50 years tenure with the Local 638 Union.
Walter applied his talents in many ways outside of his trade craft. In the early 1970s, he was affectionately known in the neighborhood as "The Water Commissioner" for his efforts in lobbying (and subsequently digging and helping to install the necessary equipment needed for dozens of his neighbors) Suffolk County Water to bring public water service to the area.
Walter is predeceased by his wife, Claudia Johnson (née Connolly) in 2020, and survived by his three children, Frances Fiore (Frank), Erin Johnson Oettinger (Marc) and Alanna Johnson, four grandchildren Enzo, Giovanni, Scarlett, and Bruno, and by his brother, Kevin T. Johnson. He will be greatly missed by his sisters in law and his many nieces and nephews.
A funeral mass will be held on Friday, June 10, 2022 at 10am at St. Lawrence the Martyr Church, 27 Handsome Ave, Sayville, NY, followed by burial at Calverton National Cemetery. A Celebration of Life reception will be held on Sunday, June 12, from 5pm to 9pm at the Irish Coffee Pub, located at 131 Carleton Ave, East Islip, NY.
Inscription
EN2 US NAVY
VIETNAM
Gravesite Details
Interment 10 Jun 2022
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