James Elmo "Jim" Johnson
Sep 15,1916 - Oct 5, 2011
Posted by Janet Laubhan Flickinger
 

http://www.havenbrookfuneralhome.com/

Jim Johnson, 95, of Norman died peacefully Wednesday, Oct.5, 2011 at Cedar Creek Living Center.

Jim was the youngest of five children born to James M. Johnson and Della Victoria (Van Huss) Johnson on Sept., 15, 1916 in Leday, Tx.  He moved to Norman with his family in 1926 to the Seminole area for his father to work in the oil boom.   He attended Tishomingo High School leaving in the 10th grade to work in the Civil Construction Camps in the Sulphur area.  When WW II began in 1941, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps.  He later received his honorary diploma in a special ceremony held with the 2002 Norman High School graduating class. He was very proud to walk across the stage in his cap and gown to receive his diploma.  Jim served as an orthopedic technician with the 1075th Army Air Force Base Unit Hospital in Miami Beach, Florida. He attained the rank of Staff Sergeant and was honorably discharged on Feb.15, 1946. During his military service he received the American Defense Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, American Theatre Ribbon and the World War II Victory Medal.

Jim married Alvena R. Winkler June 24, 1973 making their home in Norman.  They enjoyed going fishing, family gatherings and the many functions held at the Masonic Lodges in Okla. He loved teasing his grandchildren with the pet names he had for them.  He retired from Tinker Air Force Base after working as an aviation machinist technician for 19 years.   He was a 32nd Degree Mason and a Past Master of the Norman Masonic Lodge.  He was a Master Mason and a Perpetual member of several lodges in Okla.  He will be remembered for his dedication to the Masonic project with the Oklahoma Society to Prevent Blindness to help provide eye glasses to children. He worked with elementary age children doing eye screenings and providing glasses to them.  He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Okla. Farmers Union, and Okla. Cattlemen’s Assoc.
  
He is preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Dazie Fryman and Cordelia Hertz;
two brothers, Claude and Marshall Johnson. 

He is survived by his wife, Alvena; children, Gary Shockley and his wife Janice, Dennis Shockley and his wife Margaret, Cheryl Trent and her husband Mike; three grandchildren, Jana Holcomb and her husband Steven, Gayla Smith, and Jimmie Shockley; four great-grandchildren, Blakely, Keelin, and Raylei Coffey, and Audrey Holcomb; nephew, Charlie Johnson and his wife Gale; and other nieces and nephews. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Oklahoma Society to Prevent Blindness at 6 N.E. 63rd St., Suite 150, Okla. City, OK 73105.

Services for Jim have been entrusted to Havenbrook Funeral Home in Norman.  A Vigil Prayer will be held Friday, Oct. 7, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. in the Havenbrook Chapel, 3401 Havenbrook St., Norman. Mass of Christian

Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Sat. Oct. 8, 2011 in the St. Charles Borromeo Chapel at the St. Joseph Parish Family Life Center, 421 E. Acres, Norman.

Thank You For Your Service!