Posted on 05/15/2018
THEODORE LLOYD JOHNSON Captain, U.S. Navy (Ret.) Passed away peacefully in McLean, VA at age 95 on Saturday, January 20, 2018. Born in Washington, DC and raised in Arlington, VA, Theodore Lloyd Johnson was the second of five children born to the late Theodore Carlton Johnson and Florence Elizabeth (Yothers) Johnson. After graduating from Western H.S. and Randle School in Washington, DC, Lloyd received an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy and graduated June 7, 1944 (with the war-accelerated class of 1945). After receiving Aviation Observer Training at NAS Jacksonville, Ensign Johnson, then better known to his navy comrades as T.L., served aboard the famed cruiser, USS Indianapolis (CA-35) in the Gunnery and Navigation Departments and while aboard participated in the battles of Palau, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. Late March 1945, his ship was so severely bomb damaged by an enemy plane, it was ordered back to the U.S. for repairs. Fortunately for T.L., while the "Indy" was in dry dock at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, CA, he received orders to report for flight training. After a year and a half training at U.S. Naval Air Stations in Texas and Florida, he received his Naval Aviator Pilot Wings in December, 1946. For several years thereafter, T.L. advanced his flying, leadership and command skills with aircraft squadron flight operations on land bases and at sea aboard numerous aircraft carriers. He became a flight instructor, team leader, test pilot, and attended the Command and Staff College, the latter at Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, AL. In 1960, T.L. made one of his several Mediterranean cruises, this time as C.O. of Fighter Squadron VF-31 aboard the USS Saratoga. In 1962, he served as Navigator aboard the first nuclear powered aircraft carrier, USS Enterprise, on its initial Med cruise. During 1964, T.L. was Commander of Attack Carrier Air Wing One. In 1965, promoted to the rank of Captain, T.L. attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. By Sept. 1967, in his Aviators Log Book, T.L.'s pilot time totaled 4,970 hours. In 1968, he became Commanding Officer of the USS Rigel, a ship tasked to carry stores and equipment to ships in the Navy's 6th fleet in the Mediterranean. From June 1970 to October 1971, T.L. was Commanding Officer of the aircraft carrier USS Hancock deployed to Yankee Station, Vietnam. In the spring of 1974, after 33 plus years served, T.L. retired from the Navy having served his final navy years as Asst. Deputy Commander of NavAirSysCom. In Jan. 1975, T.L. joined Boeing Co. first as a consultant, then appointed Manager of San Diego BCS Operations before becoming Division Manager for Boeing's Eastern BCS Operations for Space and Military Applications. He retired from Boeing Co. in 1989. A patriot, much loved, respected by many and respectful to all, he will be sorely missed though fondly remembered. He was predeceased by his parents; his wife, Evelyn (Musseau) Johnson; his brother, Charles Y. Johnson; his sister-in-law, Virginia (Focht) Johnson; niece, Janice L. Williams and brother-in-law, William Garrett Fawver (former Arlington County Police Chief). Surviving are his three sisters, Virginia Williams, Hannah Fawver and Judy Gallagher (Walt), and their children: Valerie Williams, Darlene Fawver, William Fawver Jr. (Alice), Marie Gallagher, Phillip Gallagher (Angela) and Dean Gallagher (Laura). Also nephews, Bradish Johnson (Pam), Philemon Johnson (Susan), and Quinley Johnson (Jeannie); and many grand nieces and nephews. Funeral services with full military honors will begin at Ft. Myer Old Post Chapel on Thursday, June 7, 2018 at 1 p.m. (Please allow 45 minutes to get through the 2nd Street Henderson Gate) with interment immediately following in Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Capital Caring Hospice, 2900 Telestar Court, Falls Church, VA, 22042. www.moneyandking.comwww.moneyandking.com
Money and King Funeral Home
171 Maple Avenue W
Vienna, VA 22180
(703) 938-7440
Published in The Washington Post on May 13, 2018