Roy Alfred Johnson Jr.

Roy A. Johnson Jr., 87, passed away November 3, 2011, at Landmark Care Center. He was born January 3, 1924, in Yakima, Washington to Belle and Roy Johnson Sr. Roy attended Nob Hill Elementary, Franklin Junior High and Yakima High School, graduating in 1942. That same year he enlisted in the Army Air Corp and served 4 years during WWII, becoming trained in radar bombing and navigation. After the war, Roy continued as a Ready Reserve flying instructor for 16 more years, retiring with the rank of Air Force Major.

Roy married Donnafae Hugill on April 14, 1946, and they moved into their home on Summitview. He began running the family orchard in partnership with his father while continuing his education, with the help of the G.I. Bill, at Central Washington University. He graduated with a degree in Education and taught 3 years at Madison Grade School. When Roy Sr.'s health began to fail, Roy quit teaching in order to help run the orchard full time with his dad.

In the 1950's Roy and Carl Wagner, Sr. purchased used smudge pots from California. Orchards that had suffered from frost damage had a new tool to help protect the fruit. They sold the smudge pots throughout the Yakima Valley and up to the Canadian border. In the early 60's, Roy's brother-in-law, Rob Winters, suggested selling apples to the Franklin Pierce School District for school lunches. Roy packed his own apples and hauled them by truck, thus beginning nearly 40 years of marketing his apple crop to school districts throughout the Puget Sound area. By the mid-60's, Roy and Les Barbee were two of the first orchardists to experiment with overhead sprinklers as a source of frost protection. After experimenting for one season, Roy was convinced and converted the rest of the orchard to this form of frost protection, which is still used today. Through the years, Roy and Donna were both visible at the warehouse during cherry and apple harvest and developed many loyal friends and customers.

In 1980, his son, Eric, went into partnership of the orchard with him which gave Roy and Donna time for travel. At this time they purchased a second home on Camano Island and for over 20 years enjoyed many special gatherings there with friends and family. One travel highlight was their visit to Sweden to tour the homeland of his grandfather and meet his present day relatives. In 1988, he was a passenger on a memorable trip aboard Friendship One, a record setting 36 hour flight around the world, where he met and visited with astronaut Neil Armstrong. In 1994, Roy had the opportunity to travel with other fruit growers and industry officials on a marketing trip to Asia to promote Washington apples, with walking along the Great Wall of China one of the high points for him.

Roy was a member of Central Lutheran Church, the Veteran Fruit Growers, the Wiley City American Legion, a lifetime member of the Washington State Horticultural Association, the 1959 Cherry Institute president and served many years on both the Nob Hill Water Association and Yakima Valley Canal board of directors.

Roy is lovingly survived by his daughter Carol (Gary) Bergan, son Eric (Jill), grandchildren Nicole Pierone, Kyle Johnson, Britta and Callie Bergan, Ben and Adrienne Engelhart and Eryn Johnson, great-grandchildren Spencer Pierone, Broden, Karma and Luc Johnson and Emmalie Engelhart and his loving sister, Carolyn (Rob) Winters. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Donna, his infant son and his oldest son, Ken.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Landmark Care Center for the care they provided Roy the last few years of his life and also, Lower Valley Hospice for their support and comfort during his final weeks.

There will be a private family burial. A gathering of family and friends to celebrate Roy's life will take place at Johnson Orchards warehouse from 2:00-4:00 on Saturday, December 3.

Memorials may be made to Central Lutheran Church or a charity of the donor's choice. For an online guest book and to celebrate the life of Roy visit www.keithandkeith.com.