Obituary - Johnnie Irwin Louderback

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The Daily Chronicle
Centralia, Washington
Tuesday, 15 December 2015

Johnnie Irwin Louderback, 80, of Winlock, passed away Dec. 2, 2015, while on vacation in Sydney, Australia.

He was born Jan. 15, 1935, in Willapa, Washington to Irwin and Lucille Louderback in the "Little House". He grew up in Willapa and graduated as valedictorian from Willapa Valley High School, where he played football and basketball. He remained a life-long supporter of Willapa Valley High School.

Johnnie graduated from the University of Puget Sound, formerly the College of Puget Sound in 1958. He was a member of the varsity basketball team and Sigma Nu fraternity. This is where he met his wife, June Louise Baker, of Toutle, Washington. They were married Dec. 22, 1957.

After college, Johnnie joined the U.S. Air Force as an officer. He attended training in Missouri and Mississippi and then was assigned to navigation school at James Connally Air Force Base in Waco, Texas. After training, he chose to return to the state of Washington and was stationed at McChord Air Force Base, Tacoma, Washington. His next tour was to England for three years and then the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, where he taught math and navigation. This is where he and his family became avid hikers and campers. He also enjoyed watching the Air Force Falcons in numerous NCAA sports.

From 1971-72, he had a tour in Vietnam, where he flew in and navigated a C119 Gunship plane. After Vietnam, he returned to Washington and earned his master's degree in Education at UPS and went on to teach ROTC at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon. He finished his Air Force career with tours in Montgomery, Alabama and San Antonio, Texas, where he worked in Air Training Command. He retired from the Air Force after 22 years of service.

After his Air Force career, Johnnie returned to Washington again, where he taught and was principal at Vader Public School for eight years. He retired from teaching and was able to spend more time enjoying the outdoors, hiking, camping, boating, gardening and cutting down trees on his property and producing lumber with his sawmill.

Survivors include his wife, June of Winlock, Washington; two daughters, Tammi Kruse (Bob) of Rapid City, South Dakota and Holly Jessop (Scott) of Kaysville, Utah; son, Eric Louderback (Julie) of Amity, Oregon; 13 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Johnnie was preceded in death by his parents, Irwin and Lucille Louderback; and a baby sister, Darlene Lucille.

A celebration of life service will be held at the Willapa United Methodist Church, 969 Willapa 1st Street, Raymond, Washington Dec. 19, 2015 at 3:00 p.m. His ashes will rest adjoining the plot of his parents at Fern Hill Cemetery in Menlo, Washington.

Memorial contributions may be made to National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Michael J. Fox Foundation, or The Heart Foundation