Tejon Military Cemetery

© The Bakersfield Californian
Saturday, 29 December 2007

Larry B. Johnson
1931 - 2007

Larry B. Johnson, of Tehachapi, passed away Thursday, December 27th. He was 76 years old.

Larry served in the United States Army from 1952 to 1954.

He worked at Monolith Cement Co. for 43 years.

Mr. Johnson is survived by his wife of 56 years, Helen F. Johnson; son, Jerry Johnson of Tehachapi; daughter, Cheryl White of Bakersfield; four grandchildren, Larry of Clearlake, Michael of Bakersfield, Jehri of Tehachapi and Julie of Plainfield, Indiana; and three beautiful great grandchildren, Mason, Savannah and Shelby.

Visitation will be held at Wood Family Funeral Service, Inc. in Tehachapi, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m., on Saturday, December 29th.

Family and friends will gather at Kelcy's Restaurant following the viewing.

Larry B. Johnson Jan. 17, 1931 ~ Dec. 27, 2007

Wood Family Funeral Service, Inc.

© Tehachapi News
Tehachapi, California
Monday, 7 January 2008

Larry B. Johnson
1931 - 2007

You know when you drive by the funeral home and see all the original Old Timers, you know one of their friends have moved on. That was the case on Dec. 29. With just short notice, hundreds still arrived to the Wood Family Funeral home and Kelcy's restaurant to pay their respects. Old Timers like the Gilliands, Redelspergers, Smiths, Owens, Cowans, Backes, Cummings, Blairs, Damians and on and on attended.

Larry was born in Wichita Falls, Texas on Jan. 17, 1931. He served in the United States Army from 1952 to 1954. Although he was in the Army, he was attached to the 832 Airborne Division, stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska at Fort Belvore, Virginia and Beale AFB in Marysville, Calif. Larry was honorably discharged at the rank of Staff Sergeant.

Larry moved to Tehachapi in 1951 and worked for Monolith Portland Cement for over 40 years. In the tradition of other hard-working Tehachapi men, he began as a laborer and worked his way up to management positions, serving as a lab supervisor, maintenance foreman, quarry superintendent and plant superintendent before his retirement in 1989.

Larry was a great person, who loved his family and friends. He loved his country and displayed the American flag in his front yard. He kept in close contact with many of his old Army buddies, some even weekly. He really enjoyed his Military Reunion each year.

Larry was respected and appreciated for his loyal friendship, and Jerry Wood remarked that Larry and his friends Kelcy Owens and Coy Blair were pallbearers at more funerals than anyone else in Tehachapi, because they knew so many people and were there in the time of need.

Larry loved the outdoors, loved to hunt and fish, enjoyed the mountains around Tehachapi. He not only taught his own children and grandchildren to love the outdoors, including Oak Creek Canyon, but he gave other Tehachapi kids a chance to be in the mountains and learn the lessons there. Larry had been here a long time. He knew Bear Valley as the Fickert's, Stallions Springs as Ellsworth's Ranch, Bud Cummings owned the entire mountain.

He enjoyed working at Monolith, the job and the friends were all part of his happiness.

Larry loved his family and friends, he always had time to love and help them. He was a great husband and father and will be remembered by many.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Helen; son, Jerry and his wife Lani of Tehachapi; daughter, Cheryl of Bakersfield; grandchildren, Larry Johnson of Clear Lake, Michael of Bakersfield, Julie of Plainfield, Ind. and Jehri of Tehachapi; great-grandchildren, Mason, Savannah and Shelby and sister, Joy Beasley of Overton, Texas.

Larry's wishes were for his remains to be placed at the new Tejon Military Cemetery, which is to be located at the Arvin Cut- off and Highway 58. Completion is scheduled for this year. Larry's remains will be placed there by his family and life long friends, Coy Blair of Tehachapi and Frank Collins of Bakersfield.

The family would like to thank all of his friends for being part of his life. A special thanks to Kathy at Kelcy's for their service, especially with such quick notice and to Jerry and Barbara Wood of Wood Family Funeral Home, for their care, support and service.

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