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Col. Isham M. Johnson USAF, Ret. passed away on July 25th, 2016 at age 96. A native of Mississippi, he attended East Central Junior College and the University of Maryland. Isham dedicated his life to the country he loved, serving thirty years in the U.S. Air Force. He enlisted in 1941, and saw plenty of action in the Southwest Pacific during WWII. He was a Lt. and navigator in the Battle of the Bismarck Sea. Johnson served 21 years with the Strategic Air Command: from 1948 to 1952 he was an air crew member on a B-36 aircraft; he was stationed twice overseas – first in French Morocco and last in South Ruislip, just west of London, England. Stateside, Johnson, his wife, Billie, and their two daughters, Linda and Deborah, lived in Savannah GA and Omaha NE while he worked as an officer in the field of Distribution and Material. In 1965, Col. Johnson was assigned to SAC Headquarters as Chief of the Weapons System Support Division at Offut AFB in Nebraska. He became Director of Supply and Services in 1967. He moved on to San Antonio and Kelly AFB in 1970. Colonel Johnson's decorations and medals include: the Legion of Merit, National Defense Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal and several others. He was awarded the Legion of Merit for his individual contribution to the development and implementation of many exceptional supply management improvements enhancing the operational readiness and cost effectiveness of SAC's combat forces during the war in Southeast Asia. After completing his last post as Director of Distribution at Kelly AFB, Johnson retired from the AF and eventually became Operations Manager of the Ingram Park J.C. Penney's. Col. Johnson was a lover of the game of golf. He enjoyed playing some of the world's great golf courses: Pebble Beach and St. Andrews among them. He shot a hole-in-one at the age of 70 at the Kelly Air Force Golf Club! He is survived by his wife Billie – "the love of his life" – to whom he was married 73 years; his daughter Deborah; grandson Richard, Richard's wife Allison, and two great-grand children, Richard and Katherine. Isham grew up on a farm in Hickory, Mississippi, the youngest of eleven children. He had a spirited wit, was known to be cool and collected under fire, and his enduring strength was greatly admired. He left his family forever grateful for his gentle nobility and a good-hearted smile that brought the same to many people's lives.

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Col. Isham M. Johnson

September 8, 1919 - July 25, 2016