Grove Johnson Obituary
JOHNSON - Grove C., Lt. Col. USAF (ret), age 86, of Boynton Beach, Florida, passed away on July 26, 2007.
Born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska, as a paperboy for the Omaha World Herald in the early 1920s he was personally praised by then owner William Randolph Hearst.
He also worked as a life guard and was active in the Boy Scouts of America.
He graduated from Central High School in 1939.
In 1941 he joined the Army Air Corps as a cadet and in 1969 he completed a career in the Air Force, retiring as a command pilot in the grade of Lieutenant Colonel.
He served in the Pacific Theater of World War II, flying bomber missions from the Aleutian Islands to the Mariana archipelago.
During the Korean Conflict, he was on a special mission in Turkey, and he completed a combat tour as security police squadron commander at Ton Son Nhut Air Base in Viet Nam.
During his Air Force service he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, and Air Medal.
He felt his greatest contribution to his country was his work as a member of the U.S. delegation to the International Civil Aviation Organization; in that capacity he helped chart and establish the network of airways throughout the world.
After his last tour of duty, Grove retired at Patrick A.F.B. and resided for 35 years in Satellite Beach, Florida.
For 14 years he was a member of the staff at Florida Air Academy teaching Air Force JROTC.
Grove received his undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland and received masters degrees from Stetson University and Rollins College.
He was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity, the Military Officers Association of America, the Air Force Association, and the Daedalians.
Grove enjoyed vacationing in Hawaii, taking pleasure cruises, boating, gardening and working on household projects.
He considered himself a "hothouse plant," as he loved the warm Florida climate.
A proud husband and father, Grove often spoke of his devoted wife and three sons, all Eagle scouts and service academy graduates who followed in his footsteps serving as fighter pilots in the U.S. armed forces.
Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Helene A. Johnson; three sons, Commander (USN ret.) Frederick G. Johnson and his wife Sharron, of Virginia Beach, Virginia; Captain (USN ret.) William H. Johnson and his wife Jan, of Annandale, Virginia; Lieutenant Colonel (USAFR) Jeffrey C. Johnson, Ph.D., and his wife Lynette, of Boynton Beach, Florida; and six grandchildren; brother, Leslie H. Johnson and wife, Bernice, Omaha, NE; sister-in-law, Phyllis Johnson, Marana, AZ.
Grove will be inurned with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.