Richard Moody Johnson

Richard Moody Johnson, Lt.Col., USAF (Ret) passed away
Wednesday, April 9, 2014, in Missoula, Montana after a long
courageous battle with cancer.
Richard, also known as Moody, was born April 12, 1938, in
Marianna, Arkansas to Harriet Moody Johnson and W.S. Johnson.
He graduated from T.A. Futrall High School and attended Arkansas
A&M College before joining the Air Force and being selected for
Navigator Training. He graduated in December 1958, receiving
his wings and commission. He received a BS from the University
of Nebraska at Omaha and a MS from the University of North
Dakota.
In 1961, while stationed at Malmstrom AFB, Montana, he met and
married Mary Collette Vacura. They celebrated 52 wonderful and
adventurous years of marriage. TWO daughters and a son were
born to this union.
While on active duty he served 23 years all over the world, and
finally in Cleveland, Ohio where he was a commander of
government contracts with the Defense Contract Administration
Richard was a Vietnam veteran who flew 142 missions and received
the Distinguished Flying Cross and four Air Medals. while
serving in Minuteman Missiles, his crew helped win the
"Blanchard Trophy" for the best missile wing in the Air Force.
He was chosen for a yearlong assignment of "Education with
Industry" at United Technology, Inc., in California.
After retiring from the Air Force, he was the program manager at
The Cleveland pneumatic Co. (CPC), Cleveland, Ohio, responsible
for all the sikorsky and Grumman helicopter contracts. He liked
to say CPC gave him a PHD in the processing and manufacture of
landing gear. In 1985, he started his own company, CM
Manufacturing, which manufactures landing gear components. In
1998, at the age of 60, he relocated the company to Missoula,
Montana, where he managed and grew the company with his son,
Kenneth to the success it is today_
Moody loved being active, enjoying many activities like skiing,
golf, trap shooting, and officiating basketball. He also was a
member of many organizations and clubs during his lifetime. One
notable achievement was his attainment of the Eagle Scout award,
the youngest in the state of Arkansas at that time. His life

was an adventure with traveling and enjoying his family. He was
not afraid of taking on a new challenge at any age while
enjoying tinkering and fixing things even building his own
sports car.
we will miss his quick wit, humor, outspokenness, integrity and
strong resilience in life. He lived his life to the fullest.
Richard was preceded in death by his parents, half-sister,
Rosemary, half-brother Bill, and granddaughter, Chloe.
He is survived by his wife of S2 years, Collette, daughters:
Lisa Sterneckert, her children: Connor and Amanda of Westlake,
Ohio; Andrea (Jim) Meckes, their children: Cody and Mackenzie of
Avon, Ohio; son, Kenneth (Shelly), their children Ava and Liam
of Missoula; brother-in-law, Tom Vacura of Missoula. He is also
survived by numerous relatives in Arkansas.
Richard will be interred in the Western Montana Veterans
Cemetery with a memorial service for friends and family at a
later date this summer in Missoula.
In lieu of flowers consider a charitable donation to Watson
Childrens' Shelter Endowment Fund, 4978 Buckhouse lane,
Missoula, Montana 59804 or united cerebral palsy of Cleveland,
10011 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44106.
Sunset Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements. Condolences for the family may be left at www.missoulafuneralhomes.com
WE MISS AND LOVE YOU, MOODY!!!


Read Richard Johnson's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.