Louis M. Johnson

HOLYOKE - Colonel Louis M. Johnson, USAF, retired, 94 years old, of Holyoke, MA, died on October 6, 2015 in Holyoke, MA. He was born in Boston, MA in 1921, son of the late Louis M. Johnson and Julia (Murphy) Johnson. He grew up in the small town of Royalston, MA and graduated from Somerville High School in Somerville, MA in 1939. As a young man, Lou had an avid interest in aviation, earning his pilot’s license in 1941. In 1942 he joined the US Army Air Corps and completed cadet flying training in 1943. During his career in the Air Force Lou maintained his flying qualifications, and remained on active duty until December of 1970, when he retired. He married Lillian Rose Whitehead in 1951 while at McDill AFB in Tampa, FL, and they were stationed at Air Force bases in the Far East, Caribbean and the United States, settling in Holyoke in 1969. During his retirement, he became involved in the sport of soaring, actively flying until 2003. He is survived by four sons; Steven and his wife Leslie of North Carolina, William and Annie Mckenzie of South Hadley, James of Holyoke and Robert of Jamaica Plain, and four daughters; Linda Carlson and her husband Robert of New Hampshire, Julia Johnson of Ware, Katherine Hill and Stuart Markham of Holyoke, and Sally Reardon and her husband Matthew of Holyoke; by three grandsons, Jack and Andrew Johnson and Christopher Reardon and one great grandson, Jace Johnson. Also six granddaughters, Sarah and Jessica Hill, Rachel Carlson, Katherine and Aimee Paradis and Marley Reardon and three great granddaughters, Brea and Haleigh Johnson and Sophia Wright; and by a sister, Edith J. Horrigan of Marstons Mills, MA . A funeral service will be held on Saturday, October 10, 2015 at 12 p.m. in the Fiske-Murphy & Mack Funeral Home 110 New Athol Road, Orange, MA. Burial will follow in Lawrence Brook Cemetery, Royalston, MA. Calling hours will be held on Saturday, October 10, 2015 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers please send memorial donations to the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa, in care of Sister Lucille Pilotte, Providence Place, 5 Gamlin Street, # 340, Holyoke, MA, 01040. To send an online condolence please visit www.mackfamilyfh.com. Fiske-Murphy & Mack Funeral Home 110 New Athol Road, Orange, MA is directing arrangements.