Clarence Bud Johnson

Clarence Bud Johnson, P.E.
June 8, 1929 - March 26, 2020

Clarence “Bud” Johnson died of respiratory and heart failure at Harrison Hospital at the age of 90. Bud was born on June 8, 1929, in St. Paul, MN, to Anna and Cass Johnson, where he grew up with elder sister Marlys (Miller, deceased). Bud attended Roosevelt Elementary and South St. Paul High School, where he was senior class president and made lifelong friends. An athlete and a scholar, Bud was on the baseball, basketball, football, and track teams, and was awarded the first Athlete of the Year Award by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 295 in 1947. In 1952, Bud graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Civil Engineering degree and joined the Navy Civil Engineer Corps.

During his first Navy assignment at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Bud met his future wife, Myrna Jean Hill. They were married at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in 1956 when he returned from duty with the Seabees in Korea. During his 12 years on active duty, Bud was also stationed at Naval facilities in Corona, CA, where son Bennett was born; Klamath Falls, OR, where daughter Melissa was born; Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; and Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, PA. Bud served 12 additional years in the Navy Reserve, and retired from the military as a Commander, U.S.N.R. During his civilian career Bud completed 20 years of federal service at Supervisor of Shipbuilding Seattle, WA; Naval bases in Sasebo, Japan, and Rota, Spain; and Submarine Base Bangor, WA, during construction. Bainbridge Island was home since 1974. Many friends were made along the way.

Bud’s studies, interests, projects, and hobbies show how fully he engaged in life. He was always handy and ready with a joke, story, insight, puzzle, or diagram. He was an accomplished golfer and enjoyed playing tennis and softball. He attended Rolling Bay Presbyterian Church and Bethany Lutheran Church, and was a member of Wing Point Country Club for 45 years. Bud studied the Bible, played bridge, researched the family genealogy, wrote an autobiography of his early years, and fixed Everything.

Bud is survived by wife Myrna; children Bennett and Melissa; grandchildren Emily, Kevin, and Sara (Paul Mach); great grandchildren Mikko, Aksel, and Fiona Mach; sisters-in-law Barbara Hill Stanley and Sandra Hill; brother-in-law Bob Miller; extended family and friends.

A celebration of his life will be scheduled at a later date. Donations may be made to the American Kidney Fund, Bainbridge Island Helpline House, or the South St. Paul Educational Foundation.