San Bernardino County Obituaries

Robert E. "BJ" Johnson

Submitted by Peggy Hooper 26 Feb 2008

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Daily Press; 2/19/2008 
 
Robert E. "BJ" Johnson died at his home in Barstow on Feb. 15, 2008 at the age of 74 after 
complications with his heroic and head-strong battle with colon cancer. Born April 2, 1933 
in St. Paul, Ark., Bob was the first of five children for Alva and Macel Johnson. After his first 
12 years of post-depression era life in the Ozark Mountains his father answered the call for 
civilian duty at the Hanford Project in 1945, which brought the family cross-country to 
Richland, Wash., and the Inland Empire. 

Once established at their new home in Richland, "Bobbie Gene," as his siblings knew him, was 
relied upon more and more by his parents to help with caring for sister Susie, brother Bill, 
brother Jim and baby sister Janice. Post war life was tough and the need to provide basic 
necessities left little choice for his parents but to have his mother eek out a small income 
caring for other younger children. Regardless of these difficult circumstances, his parents 
were very insistent their children complete their primary and secondary education. Through 
hard work and perseverance Bob graduated in the upper percentile from Columbia High School 
in 1950, a few short months after turning 17 years old. 

In the fall of 1950 Bob returned to the south to continue his education at David Lipscomb College. 
After one year of school he received an invitation from the United States Government to visit his 
local enlistment office and, as a result, joined the United States Air Force. Interestingly, this 
second attempt to serve his country was successful, for at the age of 10, Bob hopped a train 
under the guise of running errands in town and proudly presented himself for military service, only 
to be told to return when he was older. After serving four years as a fighter jet radar technician 
and receiving an honorable discharge, he returned to Richland to pursue his collegiate education 
and follow his dreams of becoming an aircraft pilot. 
As time passed and the passion for flying grew so did the desire to raise a family. In 1957 he 
married Zana Lea Ellison of Rapid City, S.D. and within the next six years Steven, Alan, Karen 
and Sandra were born. He continued to support his family for the next few years by employment 
with engineering firms including Vitro Engineering in Richland. But the love of the air wasn't to pass 
him by as he was instrumental in the startup and management of various local charter and 
commuter airlines including Am-Air, Execuair, Columbia Pacific Airlines, Golden Gate Airlines and 
Zephyr Aviation Services (Burbank, CA). 

As the commuter airline business tightened up Bob's attention turned to corporate piloting. This 
era of his career involved employment with Lockheed Martin and Jet Propulsion Laboratory in 
southern California. When it was finally time to hang up his wings he had logged over 18,000 hours 
of flying time in various turboprop and corporate jet aircraft. But his aviation career was not quite 
over as he accepted a position as an instructor with FlightSafety International in Wichita, Kansas 
for the next couple years. 
After nearly 45 years in the aviation industry, he chose to focus on other hobbies and special 
interests. Not wanting to let any grass grow under his feet he obtained his Commercial Drivers 
License and logged over 250,000 miles in the left seat of an 18-wheeler with Apex Bulk Commodities, 
C. R. England and FedEx Ground. He made many special friends in his hobbies of dune buggies, 
horseback riding and animal husbandry in the high deserts of southern California. He was particularly 
fond of the memories created with his horseback riding club, Coral 66 in Barstow. He also enjoyed 
recreational running, having participated in many running events and 11 marathons after the age 
of 50. Unfortunately his life was cut short and he was unable to chase his most recent desire of 
operating a diesel-electric locomotive. 
His life hasn't been without sorrow, however, as he had to endure the death of his parents and, 
in October 2007, his sister, Susie Haney of Richland, Wash. But as life goes on, so do the many 
memories held by Roland Haney of Richland, Wash.; Bill and Joyce Johnson of Spokane, Wash.; 
Jim and Peggy Johnson of Atlanta, Ga.; Janice and Malcum Chunn of Richland, Wash.; Zana 
Johnson of Barstow; son, Steve, Victoria, Christofer and Andrew Johnson of Caldwell, Idaho; son, 
Alan, Janet, Casey and Taylor Johnson of Tigard, Ore.; daughter, Karen, Steve, Joey and Amy 
Traywick and Craig Chadwick of Chattanooga, Tenn.; daughter, Sandra, Major Robert (Bob) and 
Max Williams of San Antonio, Texas; and many special nieces and wonderful nephews. 
Bob's final touchdown in the greatest-of-all corals will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens in Richland, 
Wash., under the direction of Einan's Funeral Home. Donations in Bob's memory can be made 
through Einan's to the Healthwell Foundation, 915 By-Pass Highway, Richland, Wash., 99352, 
800-574-7084.