Obituary of Ralph 'Sonny' Johnson

Prior to service time 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Masonic Center 521 North Street SE Tumwater Ralph (Buzz)(Sonny) L.J. Johnson Ralph (Buzz) Johnson, beloved husband, father, grandfather, uncle, son-in-Law, brother-in-Law, friend, lost his courageous battle with lung cancer due to a heart attack on November 18, 2005. His parents Ralph and Mabel, sister, Rose, brother, Ronald, and sister, Charlotte all preceded him in death. Plus his precious daughter Destie died December 23, 2003 and he missed her terribly. Ralph was born in Concord, New Hampshire on February 9, 1929. He lived most of his youth in Hartford, Connecticut, and known as Sonny to his entire family. He joined the United States Air Force in 1948 and was a Sgt in charge of Radar Screening. He was stationed at McCord Air force Base where he met his wife Barbara at a skating arena where they both loved to dance together on skates. They were married in 1949 in Olympia and celebrated 56 years of marriage on May 13, 2005. They lived most of their married lives in the Olympia, Lacey area. Ralph and Barbara loved to travel in their motor home after retirement and spent many happy days in the southwest and Las Vegas in the winter months. Ralph worked for the Department of Commerce, Maritime Administration for 24 years and after retirement he drove school bus for North Thurston from 1973 to 1988 and was voted Bus Driver of the Year more than once. He loved all his handicapped children and they loved him. He built his own beautiful workshop and made toys, birdhouses, country items and had all the up-to-date tools and then opened his own little business which was called “Lost in the Woods”. He was an avid reader, loved crossword puzzles, metal detecting, dancing, and model airplanes. He loved digging razor clams which was his favorite food. Although he was not a licensed plumber or electrician he could do all those things perfectly. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church and past Member of the Masonic Lodge No. 1 in Olympia and past Union Member. His survivors are his wife Barbara, son Michael, daughter Marquita, grandsons Jason, Joshua, James, Jonathan and granddaughter Sarah. A viewing will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Masonic Center, 521 North St. SE, Tumwater followed by a graveside service at 1:30 p.m at Masonic Memorial Park, 455 North St. SE. Funeral Arrangements are made through Funeral Alternatives of Washington. At family’s request, in lieu of flowers, you may send donations in Ralph’s name to the Cancer Society or Heart Association.