Tribute to Walt Johnson

Walter Clint Johnson
January 4, 1928 - December 10, 1992
For more information about Walt Johnson' Havasu Palms

COPY OF THE MEMORIAL SERVICE
FOR WALT JOHNSON:
December 31, 1992

      Thank you all for coming this morning to this tribute to Walter Clint Johnson. My name is Rod Wilkerson. Walt was my Uncle. Caroline, Bobbi and Lynn asked me to officiate this memorial service for a man who we all loved, and who loved us all.
       Walt was born January 4, 1928 in Flint Michigan. His childhood was not particularly happy. At the age of three Walt's only brother, six year old Robert, was hit by a car and killed. Shortly afterwards Walt's parents divorced and he lived with his maternal grandparents, whom he deeply loved. When his grandmother passed away, his aunt's family moved in with Walt and his Grandfather.   By his fifteenth year however he left Michigan and moved to California to live with his Mother, Madeline and her second husband Bud.
       When he came to California he enrolled in El Monte High School and met Caroline Glandon who became his wife four years later. Last July they celebrated their 45th Wedding Anniversary.
       Although Walt never enjoyed high school, he was constantly learning beyond the confines of the classroom. He worked on cars, experimented with ham radios and generally enjoyed building things and tinkering. In 1945 he left high school and joined the Navy. When he was discharged from the Navy he earned his high school diploma and went on to Northrup Aeronautical Institute.
       He remained at the institute for two years and received high marks, but he just wasn't happy in the confines of a profession enclosed by four walls. Walt's Mother encouraged him to get a safe, dependable job. But Walt, always the adventurer, needed constant new challenges. Because he enjoyed building and creating, various family members and friends encouraged him to enter an apprentice program in carpentry. When many of his friends, who looked older than Walt, immediately became journeyman carpenters, Walt was forced to complete his entire apprenticeship. This gave him the knowledge to later surpass those old friends to becoming a successful general contractor.
       During these years Walt was building something more than a career, he was building something he never really had as a child. He was building a family. When he first met Caroline he was a stranger in El Monte and an only child. Caroline had lived in El Monte most of her life, and helped make Walt feel at ease. She was also the youngest of a large loving family whose widowed mother, Hilda, would come to be one of the dearest and most supportive people in Walt's entire life.
       Although Walt never had a good role model for a father, it came naturally to him. He was loving, affectionate, generous, humorous and caring to his daughters Lynn and Bobbi. And sometimes he was spontaneous. When his oldest daughter, Lynn, turned sixteen he took her to buy her first automobile. A sensible model Caroline assumed. Yet, when Walt returned home, he brought with him a racing green MGB sports car. Not exactly the sensible model Caroline had envisioned, but Walt and Lynn sure had fun.
        By the age of 38 Walt was a successful general contractor. When many construction companies were struggling through hard times, Walt was prospering by doing mostly commercial work, which included a large number of Winchell Donut Houses. Walt, Caroline, and their two daughters lived in a large custom home in Covina Hills, a home Walt had designed and built. Life was comfortable and secure. Yet, he was longing for a new adventure. In 1965, Walt, Caroline, the girls and Walt's sister in law Margaret (my mother) George (my dad) and I made a trip to Lake Havasu City an area which was just being developed. Later Caroline's oldest brother, Kenneth Glandon, told him about a place called Havasu Palms, one of its owners happened to live in El Monte.
       Walt's new dream was to develop a resort. Walt convinced Caroline Lynn and Bobbi to leave their secure world and join him in a new life. And although his accountant told him he was crazy to give up his successful business he did anyway.
       Walt became the major shareholder and general manager of Havasu Palms in 1968. He and his family moved from their large home in Covina into an old 10 wide trailer. Although their lifestyle drastically changed, and the MGB was sold, they were all excited about their new adventure. Yet, the most difficult time Walt had that year came some seven months after moving to Havasu. His oldest daughter, Lynn, had graduated mid-term so she could come with the family to Havasu. Yet, when the fall rolled around she was preparing to move back to Covina for college. In all of his excitement, Walt hadn't quite realized that this move meant his oldest baby would actually be leaving home sooner than he'd ever anticipated. Had they still lived in Covina, Lynn might have stayed home and attended school. Walt cried for one week when his little girl went off to college.
       In 1968 Havasu Palms consisted of a campground, 20 travel trailer sites, a few old boat docks and an old store. Things did not go exactly as Walt had anticipated. Times for the country were very difficult, and loans for small developers were non existent. Yet, he continued to persevere, if he couldn't afford something, he simply figured out a way to build it himself. During the next 24 years Walt designed, built and participated in each aspect of Havasu Palms. He was out in the trenches building the new mobile home sites, he learned to drive and repair the heavy equipment, and could repair all of the refrigeration equipment. When Havasu Palms needed, yet couldn't afford a trash truck Walt designed and built an automated trash truck. He not only designed and physically participated in the building of Road's End Restaurant, he was its creative chef and favorite bartender.    He also fulfilled a lifelong dream of earning his private pilots license allowing him to be closer to his girls a few air hours away.
       There were many sides to Walter Clint Johnson. His generosity to family, friends, and even to strangers was unbridled. Walt's love for animals developed through the influence of his wife Caroline. The first dog they bought together was a little schnauzer named Fritzy. Fritz was first and foremost Walt's dog, When Fritzy died at the age of 12, Walt grieved for over a year. Finally his daughters Lynn and Bobbi, said enough! And a new schnauzer Maxi, was brought into the family.
       Walt's humor, although sometimes unchecked, was unique and ever present. At his eldest grandson's second birthday party he filled a 33 gallon trash can liner full of helium and set it free over Pomona. And when that same grandson was in no more than first or second grade, Walt hid beneath Scott's bunk bed and hurled a stuffed Garfield at Scott as he entered what he thought was an empty bedroom. Unfortunately for Walt, the prank was not much appreciated, and as his terrified grandson leapt with fear into the air and screamed in terror, Walt suddenly realized that the little joke wasn't such a good idea.
       Grandchildren were something Walt longed for. When his first grandson, Scott was born, he'd slip into the nursery and innocently ask "lets wake him up so he can play!"
       During the time of Scott's birth, Caroline and Walt happened to be staying in Claremont, as Walt was helping his oldest daughter, Lynn and her husband Steve build their first house. It was a house Walt not only contracted but designed.
       When Scott was born Caroline and Walt stayed with Bobbi and Don for a few days. Caroline helped with the new baby while Walt did what he always did when he visited one of his daughters; he went grocery shopping. It was a special treat for Lynn or Bobbi when Dad went grocery shopping. He'd buy then all their favorite foods, all the things they normally couldn't afford on their budgets. And then he'd cook his girls their favorite meals.
       To his family he was always the problem solver. If there was ever a problem, he'd try to fix it. Even to the impossible or improbable he'd never say it can't be done, he'd simply find someway to do it.
       About three years before he died, Walt became ill with congestive heart failure. His condition took a turn for the worse a little over a year and a half ago. This was an emotionally charged and stress filled time for Walt, his family and his closest friends. Yet, in spite of the suffering this was a bittersweet era in Walt's life. Throughout his suffering he showed incredible strengths and purpose that astounded those of us who were near him. When most people with the same condition would choose to stay in bed, Walt would literally drag himself out of bed and onto his next project. Over the past year, when he was so ill, Walt spearheaded the rebuilding of the new manager's house, remodeling the store, adding onto the restaurant, constructing the fence around the boat storage, improving the boat ramp and building the new employees' quarters. Each project seemed to give him the strength to continue living.
       During this time, filled with a roller coaster of emotions, it helped prepare Walt and his family to say goodbye. It was evident that Walt, the problem solver, would not be with his family for long, they needed this period to let go, and to stand on their own.
       Walt was my favorite Uncle and I was the male child he never had. As I was growing up and needed to earn money for school, Walt and Caroline always had a job for me. After a long hot summer as a construction laborer for Walt, I was usually fired just in time to participate with Walt, Caroline and the girls in their yearly vacation at the beach. When Havasu Palms was first purchased, I was one of the first summer employees. Walt's generosity, love and support were always available.
       During that first summer we had many problems to overcome, Walt was never at a loss to come up with some new unusual or at times hilarious way to attempt a solution. One evening Walt and I were called out to fix a plugged drain at the old bathroom, shower in the campground. The main drain line was backing up again and in a fit of divinely inspired absurdity, we decided to utilize a new tool which we'd recently discovered in the old work shed- - - dynamite detonation caps and the old detonation device which you see on the shelf. Of course we felt that if properly placed down the drain pipe near the obstruction, the force of the blast would free up the line. After properly placing the detonation cap down the drain and hooking the wires up we put a board over the line, Walt stood on it and I pushed the plunger. After picking Walt off the floor we discovered that we had collapsed the drain line and were worse off than when we started. We did laugh a lot, however, and in later years reminisced how we probably shouldn't go into munitions work.
       Many of you in the room today have spent special time with Walt. At this time we would like you to share your special recollections or anecdotes from your memories of Walt.
       Thank you all so much for remembering with us the wonderful years spent with Walt.
       Most of you may know that during most of his life, Walt gave no credence to the possibility of an afterlife or a spiritual hereafter. What he did firmly believe was that we each live on thru our children and in turn, thru their children. During his last year, Walt began to seek and finally accept the possibility of a spiritual existence, beyond this life. Walt's daughter, Lynn, had many conversations with her dad and during one of these this prayer attributed to Saint Francis was discussed and became one of Walt's favorites.
       Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
       At this time we'd like Walt's four grandchildren, Scott, Elizabeth, Kevin and Ryan, to each release a balloon, which will symbolize the release of Walt's spirit into a greater adventure, by the four people who symbolize the tangible continuance of Walt's life here on earth.
       Thank you for being here today. Please plan to stay and share some coffee and treats and further discussion about our friend Walt.