P. W. Johnson

   Cause of his death was heart attack.

  General Notes:

Research of James W. Straw


1930 Hutchison, Reno County, Kansas
Pearl W. Johnson age 46 born c1884 IL (HOH)
Edith P Johnson age 43 c1887 IL
P W Johnson age 8 KS
Beverly J Johnson age 7 KS
Bernard P. Johnson age 4 KS

www.familysearch.com
P W Johnson Event: Marriage Event Date: 12 May 1942 Event Place: , Saline, Arkansas, United States Age: 21 Estimated Birth Year: 1921 Residence: Hutchingson, Reno, Kansas Spouse: Dorris Deckard Spouse's Age: 18 Spouse's Estimated Birth Year: 1924 Spouse's Residence: Little Rock, Pulaski, Arkansas Marriage License Date: 12 May 1942 Page: 282 Film Number: 1955576 Digital Folder Number: 004329475 Image Number: 00906

4, 2005
Sentinel Staff Report
"To Fly west, my friend, is a flight we all must take for a final check." (author unknown"
P.W. JOHNSON
P.W. Johnson, born April 23, 1921 in Hutchinson, Kansas, was the son of Pearl Washington (the first Chiropractor in the State of Kansas) and Edith Parks Johnson.
P.W. Johnson suffered a heart attack in early December. His wife Doris had watched him being destroyed by Alzheimer's over the last few years. He died December 21, 2004 from the heart attack, which may be looked at as bringing the sorrows of Alzheimer's to an end.
P.W.'s college was interrupted by WW II where he became a Captain of a B-17 with a crew of ten. He flew raids over Germany which included the first "daylight" raids over Berlin. He was awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses, and one Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters (equivalent of five medals). His exceptional skills as a pilot saved the lives of his crew more than once during those harrowing bomb runs. Upon completion of his European tour, P.W. became an instructor pilot for the duration of the war.
In 1945 he was hired by Pan AM and based in Miami, where he flew to Cuba, and Central and South America. In 1957 he moved his family to Saratoga, CA, and flew Boeing 707's out of San Francisco Int'l Airport around the world, the Pacific Hemisphere as well as Australia. On one of his flights, he had Charles Lindbergh as a passenger and promptly invited him to the cockpit.
In 1966 P.W.'s flying and people skills earned him the position as a Check Captain. In 1975 after 30 years with Pan Am, he had to retire due to a heart condition, but always loved flying, traveling and playing tennis in Aptos. He was a devoted husband and father.
He is survived by his bride of 62 years, Doris Deckard Johnson of Aptos, CA., two sons, P.W. Johnson Jr., of Greenville, SC., Scott Johnson, of Shaver Lake, CA., and his daughter, Shirley Idleman, of Aptos, CA., plus 7 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.
He will be missed by all who knew and loved him.
No Memorial Services.

P. married Living