Richard L. Johnson

Richard L. Johnson, 89, Lenexa, Kansas, passed away Saturday, October 13, 2012, at Lakeview Village Care Center.

Richard was born February 9, 1923 in Kansas City, Kansas, to Leon and Elizabeth Johnson. He attended Merriam Grade School and Shawnee Mission Rural High School and finished high school at Santa Ana High in California. He was a soda jerk for is father's drug store in the 1940s. Richard was a veteran of the US Army Air Corps during WWII in the 424 Bombardment Squad. He was in the Philippines and flew 42 missions as a tail gunner on a B-24 based in the South Pacific. Richard had 480 combat hours. When Richard was in the reserves he was called back into the Korean War. After a time he became a Postal worker, letter carrier and Postmaster retiring in 1981. He also had his photography and started with organ lessons, which he really enjoyed. He never met a stranger.

Richard was preceded in death by his wife of over 60 years, Laura Jane Johnson on May 14, 2009. Survivors include his sister, Anita (John) Eastland, Kansas City, Missouri; brother, Leon (Bobby Joyce) Johnson, Wellsville, Kansas; sister-in-law, Dorothy Tarr, Arvada, Colorado; and many nieces, nephews and friends.

Visitation will be from 12:00-1:30 p.m., Tuesday, October 16, 2012, at the Amos Family Funeral Home and Crematory. Funeral service will follow at 1:30 p.m.; burial in Johnson County Memorial Gardens.