Obituary of LeRoy Johnson
LeRoy Francis Johnson, Sr. passed away on Tuesday January 15, 2019 at Hackensack Meridian Health-Raritan Bay Medical Center Old Bridge. He was 97 years old. Mr. Johnson grew up in East Orange and lived there and other New Jersey locations for the first 50 years of his life. He later lived in Florida and Tennessee and more recently resided in the Reformed Church Home in Old Bridge.
During World War II, he decided to enlist in the US Coast Guard in 1942. He served until the end of the war in 1945. He worked as a ship mechanic in the engine, generator, and transmission rooms. The ships he served on were stationed at the South Boston Navy Yard. His first naval ship assignment was the Sea Cloud. Before the war, the Sea Cloud had been a luxury yacht owned by the movie actress Barbara Hutton. Lee made several Voyages aboard the Sea Cloud to the area east of Newfoundland, and returned to Boston without landing at any other ports. The ship went to that area to patrol the water for German U-boats and to report weather conditions.
He also served aboard the icebreaker Northland and the icebreaker Storis. The Hollywood actor, Victor Mature, served aboard the Storis during the time period that Lee was serving on the ship. His next assignment was at the American air and navy base at Bluie West One in Greenland where he continued working as a mechanic. The last third of Lee’s military service was on Coast Guard destroyer ships that escorted merchant ships to Europe. On one voyage, his ship was attacked by German planes and as a result, his foot and hand were permanently injured.
After the war was over, he worked as a driver for Public Service Bus Company in Newark and later sold insurance and mutual funds for various companies.
He was pre-deceased by his first wife, Ruth (Breiner) Johnson with whom he had seven children. He was also pre-deceased by his second wife, Matilde Jill Johnson, his daughter, Cindy Johnson, and his brother Bill Johnson.
He is survived by six children, LeRoy Johnson, Jr. of Monroe Twp., Richard Johnson of Ewing, Debbie Johnson and her husband Donald of Crossville, TN, Roger Johnson and his wife Betty of Parsippany, Tracy Johnson and her husband William Knorr of Long Valley, and Denise Cooper and her husband Jamie of Okeechobee, FL, 18 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, and many other extended family members.
A private cremation was held under the direction of the M. David DeMarco Funeral Home, Inc., 205 Rhode Hall Rd., Monroe Twp., NJ 08831, 732-521-0555.
All are welcome to attend the committal and entombment of Lee’s cremated remains which will take place at 11:30am on Wednesday January 23, 2019 at the Brigadier General William C. Doyle NJ Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 350 Province Line Rd. Wrightstown, NJ. To plant a tree in memory of LeRoy Johnson, Sr., please visit our Tribute Store.
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