Roland Kenneth Johnson December 4, 1922 – February 23, 2015

A celebration of life will be held Sunday, March 8th, 2015, 3:00 P.M. -7:00 P.M., at the VFW Hall, (74 W. 6th Street, Gilroy, CA.) In lieu of flowers, the family would like donations to the Alzheimer’s Association. For online condolences habingfamilyfuneralhome.com.
 Roland Kenneth Johnson, only child and son of Marie and Roy Johnson, born in San Jose Hospital, December 4, 1922. Passed, February 23, 2015.
 Attended grammar school in San Jose until 1932, when the family moved to Morgan Hill, where they lived on a ranch in Paradise Valley.
 Roland attended Morgan Hill Elementary School and then Live Oak High School where he graduated in 1940. He attended San Jose State College 1940-1942 and left to join the Army Air Corps.
 Served in Air Corps 1942-45 in the European theater and in the South Pacific. Maintained aircraft in England for attacks on continent. Re-entered San Jose State and attended two years before joining newly created US Air Force in 1950.
 Stationed in Japan 1952-1953 and 1955-1958. He met and married Inako Yokoo. Three children, Hope, Kenneth, and Faith were born in Japan. After Hope was born, Roland was prevented from bringing his family to the United States due to racial prejudice at the time and his father petitioned then Congressman Charles Gubser for assistance and a bill was entered into the Congressional Record, permitting Inako and Hope entry into the U.S., provided certain conditions were met.
 Roland and family returned to the U.S. and he was stationed in various locations around the U.S. for eight years: Pittsburg, 1958; Keesler AFB, Mississippi, 1959; Malmstrom AFB, Montana, 1960-1963; Glasgow AFB, Montana 1963-66. Two more daughters were born in this time: Marie in 1958 and (Barbara) Bobbi Jo in 1962.
 When he was sent to Vietnam in 1966, he relocated his family to Morgan Hill, where he and his wife lived until 1999.
 Roland retired from the Air Force in 1967 and worked for Westinghouse, Memorex, Systems Industries, and Superstill Technologies.
 He moved to Watsonville in 1999 and then to Gilroy in 2011, where he lived until his death.
 He leaves behind his wife of 62 years, his five children and seven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.