Walter L. Johnson, loving husband and father of six children, died peacefully on February 6, 2019 at the age of 95.

Walt was born on October 1, 1923 in Jewett, New York to Leon and Helen (Pond) Johnson.

Walt was a WW2 veteran having served with the US Army in the 197th Field Artillery Regiment. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge and was with the US Army Regiment that liberated the Buchenwald Concentration Camp. He was a dedicated volunteer of the Tannersville Fire Department and Rescue Squad and was a Red Cross Instructor. He worked for the New York Telephone Company as a lineman and later a switchman, never having taken a sick day, for 45 years, retiring in 1989. He left school in 11th grade to join the army. By virtue of his service in the military, he was awarded his high school diploma from the Windham Ashland Jewett Central School District through Operation Recognition in 1998. He was a devoted member of the Kaaterskill United Methodist Church, where if there was ever a special need, he quietly stepped up. He was a generous supporter of Operation Smile.

Walt's passion was music. He was an accomplished guitar player and earned the respect of many. He will be most remembered as a loving, patient and devoted mentor to his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In later years, he enjoyed bass fishing and spending winters in Okeechobee, Florida where he was happiest when surrounded by family and friends.

Walt is predeceased by his brothers, Angelo Johnson and Alan Johnson, by his sister Doris Huston and by his daughters in law, Linda Young Johnson and Karen Sprague Johnson. He is survived by his devoted wife, Elaine Benjamin Johnson, his sons, Eric Johnson and Larry (Odette) Johnson, his daughters     Wendy (Daniel) Powell, Carol (Michael) Holcomb, Nancy (Dale) Covey and Rebecca (Peter Bogdan) Johnson, his sister, Jeanette Wissell, eight grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

A celebration of his life will follow at a later date in his mountaintop community in Tannersville, New York.  Arrangements were entrusted to Scott Seawinds Funeral Home. Words of comfort to the family can be made by visiting www.scottfuneralservices.com

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Kaaterskill United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 225, Tannersville, N.Y. 12485, or to the Greene County Women's League, P.O. Box 341, Round Top, N.Y. 12473