CWO4 (Ret. USN) Bobby Gene Johnson

CWO4 (Ret. USN) Bobby Gene Johnson, 73, of Vancleave, MS died peacefully on Thursday, October 2, 2014 in Ocean Springs Hospital after a long illness. Bobby was a native of Stapleton, Georgia but had been a long time resident of the MS Gulf Coast. He began his Naval career in 1959 at NTC, Great Lakes, Il. Bobby rose through the enlisted ranks to E-9 and in 1976 was commissioned Warrant Officer. During the next 26 years he was stationed aboard naval ships USS Mills, USS Mataco, USS Sperry, USS Grapple, USS Conserver, and USS Mount Baker on both the east and west coasts and Hawaii. He served one tour of duty in Vietnam on Swift boat patrol and shore duty in Great Lakes, IL, Corpus Christi, TX, and Charleston, SC. While stationed aboard the USS Mills in 1962, he took part in the Cuban Missile Crisis. Bobby and his wife particularly enjoyed attending the USS Mills reunions each year. Upon retirement from the Navy in 1986, he moved to Ocean Springs, MS working for Raytheon Corporation. He later became employed with SUPSHIP Gulf Coast and retired from Civil Service in 2009. Bobby graduated from Southern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Science degree. He was a 33rd degree Mason affiliated with the Goose Creek SC Lodge and a member of First Presbyterian Church of Ocean Springs. He is preceded in death by his parents, Clifford and Lillian Johnson and his brother, Fay Johnson. He is survived by his wife, Loretta; daughter, Renee (Paul) Johnson of Diamondhead; son, Bradley Johnson of Ocean Springs; grandchildren, Jessica and James; sisters, Lorena (Bill) Johnson and Katheren Reese of Thomson, GA, and numerous nephews and nieces. A memorial service will be held Tuesday, October 7, at First Presbyterian Church of Ocean Springs. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. with the service following at 11 a.m. Interment will be at a later date at Zoar Methodist Cemetery in Stapleton, GA with full military honors. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Navy-Marine Corp Relief Society, 875 N. Randolph St., Suite 225, Arlington, VA 22203 or to a charity of choice. The Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. .