David Leroy "Dave" Johnson

David Leroy Johnson, age 81, passed away at Hospitals of Providence, Sierra, in El Paso, Texas, on Friday, September 30, 2022 after a very short illness. He is survived by his loving wife, Dixie, of the family home; stepson, Kyle Williamson (Funda) of El Paso, TX; Brother-In-Law Robert M. Doughty (Tommie Jane) of Alamogordo; two nephews, Rob Doughty (Emily and family) Capistrano Beach, CA, and Matt Doughty (Carrianne and family) of St. Charles, IL.

Dave was "GranGran" to Keegan, Kaitlin, Zoey and Ellie Williamson, and four precious great grandchildren. He will be missed beyond measure.

He was born in 1940 to LeRoy Lawrence Johnson and Louise Eugenia Johnson, in Aberdeen, Washington. When he was very young the family moved to Salem, Oregon where he grew up.

While in high school, he led the trumpet section of the Salem, Oregon Junior Symphony, including a concert tour to Los Angeles.

After two years of college, he joined the U.S. Air Force. After a year of technical school, he became a radar technician and was assigned to an 18-month tour at Wheelus Air Base, Tripoli, Libya on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea.

After the Air Force, he worked as systems test and software engineer on a wide variety of space programs,

including Lunar Orbiter (photography of the Lunar Surface), Apollo Moon Landing, Skylab, Joint Apollo-Soyuz Mission and the Space Shuttle. While working on the Skylab Program, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the University of Houston.

Employment included 14 years with the Boeing Company in Seattle and Houston, time at Linkabit Corporation (satellite communications) in San Diego and a year on Long Island, New York as a consultant. His duties included writing avionics software for the B1 Bomber in both the Seattle and Long Island locations. In a separate stay in Houston, he worked for Link Flight Simulation (previously the Link Trainer Company) writing computer software for a simulation system used for the training of all Space Shuttle Flight crews.

Throughout his career, writing technical documentation, such as proposals and specifications, was a frequent adjunct to his other work.

Retirement in Las Cruces followed employment with Lockheed Martin Corporation in satellite imagery.

He was a Life Member of the Institute for Electrical and Electronic Engineers Computer Society.

In the years before his passing, the Episcopal Church played an important role in his life. He felt that the best times in his life were when he placed his complete trust in his Lord.

Funeral services are scheduled for Friday, October 28, 2022 at 11:30 a.m. at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Las Cruces with a Military Honors Ceremony immediately following the service.

Memorial contributions may be made to St Andrew's Episcopal Church, 518 N. Alameda Blvd., P.O. Box 266, Las Cruces, NM 88005, or any charity of choice.