JOHNSON, Ralph E.

West Valley View, Avondale, Arizona February 6, 2009 Ralph E. Johnson, 83, of Tucson and formerly of Buckeye died Jan. 7, 2009. Mr. Johnson was born Dec. 13, 1925, to Marvin and Jessie. At 17 he enlisted in the Navy and was a radioman on the USS Indianapolis. He sustained serious injuries from a Japanese suicide plane during the first day of the invasion of Okinawa. While recovering from his injuries in San Diego, he learned the fate of the Indianapolis and his shipmates. He attended Arizona State University and received a bachelor's degree and master's degree. He taught in Yuma and then at West Phoenix High School. During the 1970s and early 1980s, he was farmer in Buckeye and Hyder Valley. He retired to Williams. He is survived by one son, Larry; one daughter, Marcella; three grandchildren; and his former wife, Nieves. Services were private.