Dale William Johnson (Bolivar)'s Obituary
(Master Sergeant) MSGT Dale William Johnson, a long-time resident of Fair Play, passed away Friday, September 17, 2010 at his home. He was born in Fair Play, Missouri on April 1, 1932 to Otis William Johnson and Gertrude Susan Clayton Johnson.
He graduated from Fair Play High School in May 1950 and then joined the US Air Force after graduation. After finishing basic training at Lackland AFB, TX in 1950 he trained in the Military Police at Camp Gordon, GA and then cross-trained into Air Traffic Control at Biloxi, MS in 1957. Overseas assignments included England, Germany, Greenland and an assignment to Shemya AFB, AK.
Dale received many service awards for work and equipment improvements, including three save awards for saving three aircraft and the people aboard the aircraft by helping them to navigate to safe landing from emergency situations that could have resulted in crash landings. He was awarded the European Communications Area Europe (EAME), “Outstanding Air Traffic Controller” award for the quarter (Jan-Mar 1968). Dale retired to Fair Play after serving 20 years with the US Air Force. Following this retirement he attended Agriculture School, farmed, became a carpenter and also built houses.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years Edna (Mills) Johnson; his twin brother, Darrell Johnson of Morrisville; four children: Lynn Sipes of Topeka, KS, Michael Johnson of Orcas Island, Washington, Karen Watson of Hallsville, MO and Sheila Griggs of Stockton, MO; eight grandchildren: Shelly Sipes, SSGT Ryan Sipes, Jeremiah Johnson, SSGT Kimberly Woodcock, Kristin Wolf, Michael Griggs, Megan Griggs and Melena Griggs; nine great-grandchildren, 3 step-great-grandchildren; a niece, Sharon Mullins, and many cousins in the Johnson and Clayton families.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests a donation to Citizens Memorial Hospice of Bolivar, MO and the American Lung Association. Visitation will be held Tuesday, September 21, 2010 from 5-7 pm at Butler Funeral Home of Bolivar. Funeral Services will be held at 1:00pm Wednesday, September 22, 2010 at the Butler Funeral Home Chapel with Chaplain James O. Friend officiating. Burial will follow at Bethel Cemetery west of Fair Play, MO.
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