Richard Johnson

  Richard (Dick) Johnson slipped away from us on March 1, 2016, after a full life of 83 years, most of them spent flying.
  Dick/DJ/Friday/Papa Gibb/The Colonel was born in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, on Jan. 3, 1933, an only child. His family settled in Bowling Green, Kentucky, after World War II. Here he discovered Mr. Bridges (Mr. B) and the Bowling Green airport, where he cycled daily. As Guy “Friday,” he helped with the planes and was taught to fly in return. He soloed at age 16 and was the area’s youngest pilot. He bought his first plane at 18, a Taylorcraft BL 50, and owned 17 over his lifetime, the last an RV6 built with a great friend.
  Dick joined the ROTC while at Western Kentucky University, the highlight being rides in a P51, thanks to kind National Guardsmen. This favor he paid forward many times, giving rides and lessons to friends, family and strangers.
  Richard became a navigator in the U.S. Air Force and excelled in this role (especially flying from the backseat). Early on, he worked in radar and flew the B-25 (yes, 25). He spent time in Morocco and Germany. He traveled from there and found his second love, the Volkswagen Beetle.
  Dick met the real love of his life, Carole (Kamppila) in California and they married in 1963. Their first of many travels was to Yosemite National Park, “a beauty unrivalled but by Carole.”
  The two enjoyed their married years, with various USAF bases and flying (Carole learned too). Dick was flying an F111 in 1969, when their only daughter was born on Nellis AFB, Las Vegas.
  Dick did several tours of Vietnam. Here and for the remainder of his USAF career, he flew the F4, his favorite jet by far. Much of this time, he was stationed at Bitburg AFB, Germany. He and Carole loved their time there, making good friends and exploring Europe.
  They returned stateside in 1976. Dick retired, late in 1978 as a Lt. Col., with many awards, including the Distinguished Flying Cross. He moved the family (and his yellow VW Beetle) to Lynden.
  Dick continued flying, as a commuter pilot for San Juan and Harbor Airlines. He loved flying between Bellingham and the islands, SeaTac and Vancouver, especially in the Bandeirante. If your pilot told you to “sit down, strap in and puke here,” that was him.
  Dick logged his last flight on May 7, 2002, after 16,683.5 hours. He lost many passions to Alzheimer’s, but never his love of airplanes. He could still identify most planes at a glance and some from the sound of them flying overhead.
  He never lost his love for his family and friends, many of whom were lost too early. Richard is survived by his beloved wife, Carole; his daughter, Chrystina (Peter) Bemment; his grandsons, Sterling and Jasper; and some wonderful in-laws, Walter (Bud) and Gert Kamppila, Pauline and Harley Williams and Jan and Randy Simpson.
  In lieu of flowers, remembrances can be made to the Alzheimer’s Society of Washington, 1308 Meador Ave., Bellingham, www.alzsociety.org/.
  In honor of Richard, his memorial service will be 2 p.m. on Friday, March 11, in Gillies Funeral Home, 202 Front St., Lynden.
  You are invited to share your condolences and memories in the online guestbook at www.gilliesfuneralhome.com.
  Arrangements are entrusted to Gillies Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Lynden.