07/25/1933 - 08/07/2023

Donald Howard Johnson was born at home on his family's farm near Tina, Missouri, July 25, 1933, to parents Samuel Howard Johnson and Dorothy Irene Marple Johnson. His sister Peggy Jean Johnson (Province) is his only sibling, two years older. Don's mother was the schoolteacher in their one-room schoolhouse until he transferred to Carrollton High School, where he was president of the Future Farmers of America, of the debate team and senior class president of 1951. He matriculated at the University of Missouri at Columbia, hoping to become a veterinarian. The draft for the Korean War prompted him to volunteer for the Air Force pilot training program. He was initially stationed in Germany, and later served in Las Vegas, Libya, Florida, Okinawa, Hawaii, California and Texas.

Don served for 21 years in the United States Air Force. He flew F86s and F100s as a fighter jet pilot. He served at PAC-AF headquarters and on the Inspector General's team. He was especially proud of flying with Chuck Yeager over Nellis AFB; of serving under General Curtis LeMay, who is famous for his effective bombing strategy used during WWII; and of being close friends with Col. Robbie Risner, a fighter pilot who was captured and held prisoner for 7 years at Hanoi Hilton. When he was 24, Don contracted hepatitis and watched fellow airmen die; he nearly lost his life. He prayed that God would allow him to live to have his own farm, a wife and children. ~ While visiting Denver in 1962, Don met Jeanette Marie Mariano, a registered nurse from Hanapepe, Hawaii. They became engaged and married within 6 months, moving to Orlando, Florida, where Don worked with Missile Base Command at (what was then) Cape Canaveral. They had 4 children: Donald Howard, Jr (wife Debbie); Theresa Lynn (Thompson); Richard Lawrence (wife Eileen); and Thomas Lee Johnson with 10 grandchildren (Jamie, Sarah, Makai, Joseph, Shelby, Bailey, Eddie, Matthew, Caleb & Andrew) and 2 great-grandchildren (Cruz & Spencer). Don & Jean were married 55 years before her death in 2018.

Don passed away August 7, 2023 (his mother's birthday), shortly after turning 90. Don never knew a stranger. He often talked for hours with people he had just met and helped them solve truly challenging problems. He worked very hard to make things better for his children, neighbors and community. One example: when he learned that rural residents west of Fayetteville had contaminated wells, he founded the Wheeler Water Association to manage 2 USDA loans and coordinate logistics to provide safe water at very low cost, even though our family had no need for this. In his early retirement, he built a beautiful home completely out of Arkansas fieldstone that a friend needed removed from his cattle pasture. He refused to hire contractors and figured out how to do the electrical wiring, plumbing and engineering from a home repair book. He accomplished his dream of raising a family on a small farm, complete with huge vegetable gardens, cows, rabbits, chickens, ducks, rainbow trout and a freshwater spring. He loved poker and golf and placed in several tournaments. "Pull, don't push" and "Keep it simple and make it fun," he would say, even in life's difficult moments. He had kept a copy of Desiderata in his Sabre cockpit.

The family is very grateful to Emle, Christina & Kayleigh and all the loving and caring staff at Innisfree Assisted Living in Rogers and Circle of Life Hospice in Springdale. A military service with Honor Guard will be held Monday, August 14 at 11:30 am at the Fayetteville National Cemetery, 1000 S. Lt. Col. Leroy Pond Ave, Fayetteville, AR 72701. Please text or call Theresa Thompson at (336)328-7097 or skeeko@aya.yale.edu with any questions.

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