Waverly Lee Johnson, Jr.

LTC Waverly Lee Johnson, Jr., USAF, Ret. June 4, 1918 - August 12, 2014 Waverly Lee Johnson, Jr., of Waco passed away Tuesday, August 12, 2014. A memorial service will be held at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Waco, Texas, for both, Charlotte B. Johnson and Lt. Col. Waverly L. Johnson Jr., 10:00 a.m., Saturday, September 20, with the Reverend Chuck Treadwell officiating. Waverly was born June 4, 1918, in Blackstone, Virginia, to Waverly L. Johnson and Mary Powell Johnson. He attended Blackstone Public School, receiving an athletic scholarship to Fork Union Military Academy. After graduating in 1939, he accepted a football scholarship to Duke University, under legendary Coach Wallace Wade and played in the 1942 Rose Bowl against Oregon State. The game location was moved to Durham, due to the possibility of Japanese submarines off the coast of California, shelling the Rose Bowl. Waverly left Duke after 2 years to enlist in the U.S. Air Corps as an Aviation Cadet. After basic and advanced flight training in Waco, Texas, he graduated in Class 43A January 1943, receiving his Second Lieutenant Commission and Wings. He was immediately assigned to Avon Park, Florida, for transition training for the Martin B-26 Marauder. He and his flight crew were ordered overseas as replacement for the 319th Bomb Group in North Africa in April 1943. After flying several missions, the group was moved to Algeria to hit targets in Italy, Sicily and Southern France and was in the first flight on the bombing of the famous Abbey of Monte Cassiono, Italy. In May 1944 after completing 40 missions, he returned to the States and was assigned to test flying aircraft after overhauls at Ellington Field, Houston. He was assigned as the Blackland Operation Officer until the end of WWII. Decorations earned were Air Medal with 4 oak leafs, 2 Presidential Citations, European Campaign with 3 battle stars, and the Croix de Guerre from the French government. After 32 years of service Waverly retired June 4, 1978, as a Lt. Col. When Waverly was in flight training in Waco, he met Charlotte Bridges, and on his return to the States, he and Charlotte were married September 24, 1944. To complete his college, he enrolled at Texas A&M and graduated with a degree in Agricultural Engineering in 1949. Waverly was hired as the Waco Aviation Manager, seven years before being hired as Assistant Aviation Director at Ft. Worth for three years. In 1983, he became Director of Aviation for the City of Birmingham, Alabama, for 22 years before retiring. While in Birminham, he helped in the construction of a new terminal building, parking deck and upgrading other airport facilities. One of his most enjoyable tasks was working with the Auburn University Cooperative Education Department, training students in Aviation Management. He earned accreditation as an airport executive and served on the Board of Directors for the American Association of Airport Executives and later served on the Board of Directors for the International Airport Executives. In Birmingham, he and Charlotte were members of the Episcopal Church of the Advent, where he served several terms on the Vestry and then served on the Chapter when the Advent was made a cathedral. After retiring, Waverly and Charlotte returned to St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Waco, where he had been Sunday School Superintendent 33 years before. Waverly enjoyed hobbies of model electric trains and woodworking, and was a member of the Alabama Designer Craftsmen. He was also an avid needlepointer and worked on important projects such as the United Nations "Peace Rug", Church of the Advent kneelers and hangings, and dining chair seats for the Alabama Govenor's Mansion. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Charlotte Johnson, of Waco; his son, Waverly Johnson III and his wife, Cricket, of Houston; his daughter, Vesta Batchelder and her husband, Eric, of Madisonville, LA; and four grandchildren; Waverly L. Johnson IV, Peyton Land Johnson, Julia Elizabeth Batchelder and Edwin Lee Batchelder; sisters, Virginia Willis, South Boston, VA and Lucille Lampkin, Blackstone, VA; niece, Mary Kathryn Bentley, DeWitt, VA and nephew, Dr. C.J. Willis, Halifax, VA. Memorials may be made to St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 601 Columbus, Waco, 76701. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.WHBfamily.com.