Robert Arthur '(Bob)' Johnson

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Johnson, Robert Arthur (Bob) age 90, passed away at home in Spring Valley, CA September 25th with daughter, Katherine, and son, Jim. He was pre- deceased by his wife, Katherine Lorena, and brothers; Richard and Cliff. He was the son of Arthur Emil Levesque and Helen Adina Johnson. He is survived by 5 children: Katherine, James (Mary), Robert (Geri), Nancy Warters, Danny (Robin), his 10 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchil-dren: two sisters: Jan Levesque and Lois (Everett) Jenkins, and his two beloved cats, Rusty and Punky. Bob joined the Navy at 17 serving 4 years in WWII (Pacific Theatre) on the USS LST- 910 as an electrician's mate. These years took him to such battle landings as Leyte, Peleliu, Saipan, and Iwo Jima (D+2), as well as the Reconquest of the Philippines. His ship is credited with downing 1 kamikaze. He especially enjoyed recounting supply and food delivery missions to populations on isolated Philippine islands. A Minnesota native, Bob moved his young family to California in 1952 to join the budding aerospace industry. He worked for the Convair Astronautics Atlas missile program at the Sycamore Canyon missile test site. Inspired, he built a reflecting telescope, grinding a 10" pyrex glass disk to perfection for the mirror. He and his family spent nights viewing the moon and planets often with SDSU students and other amateur astronomers. Audubon Elementary school students also visited Mr. Johnson's backyard observatory. In 1953, Bob helped build a new community church in Lemon Grove, Skyline Wesleyan Methodist Church. Bob enjoyed the challenges of solving functional problems at work and in his workshop. He held a patent for one of his inventions. He was always willing to offer a knowledgeable helping hand to friends, family, and neighbors. Bob loved nature, hunting, fishing, camping and was devoted to animals. He was a member of electrical union IBEW 569, the NRA, member and donor to Lions, Tigers, & Bears, the Humane Society, and several Veterans organizations. Private interment at Ft. Rosecrans with military honors will be held at a later date. Rest in Peace, Dad.

Published on October 2, 2015