Henry “Dale” Johnson passed away peacefully after a long battle with cancer with family present in his Lodi home on January 2, 2018. Dale was born June 26, 1933 to parents Hank and Jul Johnson in a home in Loomis, Nebraska and lived there until the family moved to California in 1942, settling in Turlock. He graduated from Turlock High School in 1951. Dale attended Modesto Junior College and Golden State University, earning his ICC license. He was a Korean War veteran who served in the USAF Strategic Air Command from 1953-57 as a jet mechanic.
After the Air Force, Dale began his full career in freight transportation sales & management, starting at the Santa Fe Railroad Western Headquarters in San Francisco. While living there, he met & married his wife of 56 years, Patricia (Patty). In 1968 they moved to Lodi, where he went on to work for Tillie Lewis Foods and Bay Area Piggyback. Dale was a practicing member of the Interstate Commerce Commission.
Dale was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He loved birds, history, travel, and to be with family. He is survived by his wife Patty, sons Mark (Candy) and Matt (Jessie), as well as grandchildren Sam, Molly, Anders, and Isaac. Dale was an active member of Temple Baptist Church for 45 years, serving on the Boards for Property Management and Children's Education, and he served as a volunteer driver for the American Cancer Society for ten years. The last several years he had been attending First Baptist Church of Lodi.
Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or the American Cancer Society.
SERVICES
A memorial service will be held Monday, January 22, 2018 at 11:30am at First Baptist Church in Lodi, CA.
INTERMENT
Burial will be private.