IRVING V JOHNSON 1924 – 2015

Born in Havre, Montana in 1924, Irving V Johnson learned to work leather at a saddle shop as a young man.

In 1943, at age 19, he joined the Navy and was assigned to Combat Aircraft Service Unit (Forward) 9 during World War II. Irving used many skills from the saddle shop as a Parachute Rigger; he was responsible for preparing parachutes and repairing the cloth wings of combat aircraft.

After receiving his honorable discharge in Bremerton, Washington in 1947, Irving worked for the Seattle Steel Company. Yearning for a change of scenery, he joined the Atomic Energy Commission as a security guard at Los Alamos. After working security, he spent the remainder of his career helping design and build equipment for the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory.  

68 years ago Irving made Los Alamos his home, which is where he stayed until he was brought to Seattle six weeks ago to be closer to loved ones during his battle with stomach and pancreatic cancer. Irving was a loving husband, a caring father and grandfather, and an active and beloved member of the Pajarito Church of Christ. He leaves behind his wife of 62 years, Yvonne, their four children (Sam, Linda, Ken and Carol), eight grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren.

Services will be held Friday, April 3rd at 10:00 AM at the Los Alamos Christian Church. Military burial will follow at 2:15 PM at the National Cemetery in Santa Fe. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions in Irving’s name be made to the Manuelito Navajo Children’s Home (P.O. Box 58, Gallup, NM 87305).