Richard Harvey Johnson, 89, a lovable and loving man known for his bear hugs, homemade carrot cake and waffles, passed away peacefully in his sleep on July 17, 2015. Dick, also known as "Harve", was born on July 5, 1926 to William Harvey and Dora Neff Johnson. He was the oldest of four children.
Dick joined the Navy after graduating from Granite High School. During WWII he was assigned to a destroyer in the New York harbor.He spent time in the China Sea and North Africa searching and destroying mines. After the war he graduated from the University of Utah receiving his civil engineering degree. In 1949 Dick married the girl of his dreams, Elayne Waller, in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. They were married for 38 wonderful years and had five children.Elayne passed away in 1988 after a long battle with cancer.
In 1991, Dick married Pauline Judd Weggeland with whom he spent 24 happy years.They were married in San Juan, Puerto Rico and continued to travel the world throughout their marriage.
Dick was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and taught his children to love the gospel. By word and example, he also taught his family to love and serve others.
Dick "Harve" loved to golf, especially with his good friends the "Dirty Shirts". He loved wintering in Saint George with Pauline, satisfying his thirst for learning by taking continuing education classes at Dixie State University. He loved pottery and created many works of art that will be forever cherished by his family.
He was a true gentleman and those fortunate enough to know him loved his outgoing personality, his optimism, and his genuine concern for others.
Dick is survived by his wife Pauline, his sister Margene Eicher, his children Richard H. Johnson II (Kathi), Kristyn Jan Smoot (John), Joan Kyriopoulos (Steve), Carol Ann Johnson Morrell (Hal), and his step-children, whom he loved as his own, Suzy Allen (Charley), Dru Clark (Mark), and Mary Livingston (Scott); 31 grandchildren and many great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Elayne Waller Johnson, son Randall Newell Johnson, brother Stanley Johnson, and sister Joyce Russell Lucas.
A viewing will be held Sundayfrom6-8 pm at Larkin Mortuary,2350 East 1300 South, Salt Lake City, Utah 84108. A viewing will also be heldonMonday, July 27thfrom9:30 to 10:30, before the funeral servicesat11 am, Monument Park 12thWard,3695 Crestview Circle, Salt Lake City, Utah. The interment will be held at the Bountiful City Cemetery, and will include full military honors.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association or other charitable organizations.
The family would like to thank Dick's many caregivers from the Visiting Angels of Salt Lake City, the caregivers at Legacy Care Center in Bountiful, his hospice nurse at Millcreek Hospice and Aspire Hospice, who have all added so much to his life over the past year.
Online condolences: www.larkinmortuary.com
