By Maddy Vitale
When someone’s birthday rolled around in the Johnson family, there was always one gift that was assured.
Bill Johnson, of Sea Isle, would phone and serenade his loved one with a rendition of “Happy Birthday” on his harmonica.
“You knew that you would say hello and there he was on the other end of the phone playing Happy Birthday on his harmonica,” Johnson’s daughter-in-law, Vanessa Johnson, recalled. “That was the exciting thing. We looked forward to dad’s calls.”
The 97-year-old Johnson, who passed away Saturday, was fondly remembered by family and friends. His death was also mourned throughout Sea Isle, where he played a major role in the community.
He was a decorated World War II Army veteran, wonderful father, grandfather, great-grandfather and great-great grandfather, said his son, Larry Johnson. Perhaps most of all, he was a loving husband to his wife, Sarah, who went by Sally, who passed away in 2010, his son noted.
A salesman by trade in the plumbing supply business before retiring in the 1970s, Bill Johnson, who formerly lived in Drexel Hill, Pa., was sometimes away for weeks at a time, leaving the duty of raising the couple’s five children to Sally. But he always provided for them, doted on them and made sure they received a Catholic school education, family members recalled.
Bill Johnson was also remembered for having a joke or kind word to say to people. He would greet them at his home on 50th Street, where he’d sit on the porch.
Notably, he led Sea Isle’s Memorial Day ceremony each year with the Pledge of Allegiance. This year, he also served as Grand Marshal of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. While waiting for the parade to start, Johnson told Seaislenews.com that it was an extreme honor to be asked by Mayor Leonard Desiderio to lead the parade.
Sea Isle Public Information Officer Katherine Custer summed up the sentiment of the many people in the community who knew Bill Johnson.
“The World War II vets are such valued members of the community. The sacrifices they made should never be forgotten. Mr. Johnson was a fine example of the best of that generation,” Custer said. “We are all very lucky to have had Mr. Johnson and people like him in this country.”
Custer described Johnson as a vibrant man. “I thought he would have reached 100 easily,” she said.
Larry and Vanessa Johnson, of Pennsylvania and Sea Isle, said because of their father’s demeanor, activity level, good humor and strength, he seemed unstoppable.
“I was down for dinner last Tuesday with dad. He was driving around and going to the Acme like always,” Larry Johnson recalled. “Dad had a heart condition, but that didn’t slow him down so much. He took a couple of falls. Ultimately, I think that is what weakened him.”
He said when his mother passed away, he persuaded his father to join a bereavement group. Bill Johnson went to his first meeting at Holy Redeemer in Swainton in 2011 and remained a regular at the meetings.
“I like going,” Bill Johnson said during the March interview. “It keeps me busy.”
Larry said of the meetings, “The Hope Group was a big part of dad’s life. He looked forward to those meetings.”
Bill Johnson even went out with friends well into his 90s.
“If there is a party, I’ll go to it,” he told Seaislenews.com during the March interview.
That was just the way he was — upbeat and positive, Vanessa Johnson noted.
“He was happy all of the time,” said Vanessa, who has been married to Larry for seven years, but has known the Johnson family for 20 years. “He was funny, and he loved to tell jokes. He didn’t know his limitations. He didn’t have any.”
Johnson went into the service on Aug. 28, 1942, as a radio operator and later also became a marksman. He was stationed in the Aleutian Islands with the 582nd Signal Air Warning Battalion. The battalion was shipped to Europe, serving in Germany, Italy and France.
Johnson received many war commendations for his service, including an American Campaign medal and the European African Middle Eastern Ribbon with two Bronze Stars.
He was a serviceman who gave to his country, but most of all, to those who knew him, he was kind, loving, a great father and grandfather and someone who will not be forgotten by the many people whose lives he has touched, family and friends said.
“He left a legacy and he is just going to be missed by a lot of people,” Larry Johnson said. “I guess, as my brother Paul said, the world was a better place for him being in it.”
Visitation will be held Friday beginning at 9:30 a.m. and services will follow at 11 a.m. at the Sea Isle United Methodist Church, 4102 Central Ave. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to either Holy Redeemer Home Care – Hospice, 1801 N. Route 9, Swainton, NJ 08210 or to Autism Speaks at FACES Support Group, Cape May Chapter, 148 Crest Haven Road, Cape May Court House, NJ 8210. For condolences to the family please visit www.godfreyfuneralhome.com.
