Memorial services for Walton S. (Waddy) Johnson, of Albert Lea and Austin, will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2008, at First Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. The Rev. Dan Baker will officiate. Friends may meet with the family one hour prior to the service at the church. There will be no reviewal. Private interment will be held at Lakewood Cemetery.
Mr. Johnson died Thursday, Dec. 11, 2008, at the Thorne Crest Retirement Center in Albert Lea. He was 93 years old.
Waddy was born Dec. 20, 1914, in Lacrosse, Wis., the son of Simon and Elizabeth (Rockelmann) Johnson. He graduated from Austin High School (Class of 1932). He was united in marriage to Lois (Billie) Mershon of Albert Lea on Dec. 17, 1939, at First Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. He lived in Austin from his childhood until 1984, at which time they moved to Albert Lea. Waddy spent 43 1/2 years with Hormel Corporation in Austin. He was serving as price administrator prior to his retirement on March 31, 1977. He was a member of St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Austin for 40 years. He served a term as president of the congregation and was active in a number of groups and committees. He transferred to First Lutheran upon the move to Albert Lea. He was a member of the Austin Country Club from 1952 until 1992. He was a life member of the Austin Elks Lodge and a member of the Albert Lea Golden K #1 Kiwanis.
Waddy is preceded in death by his wife, Billie; his parents: Simon and Elizabeth; elder sister, Eleanor Wakefield, Fairhope, Ala.; sisters: Lois Fisher, Austin, and Barbara Knutson, Longview, Texas; nephews: Richard Fisher, Austin, Dennis Morehouse, Albert Lea, and Steve Corbin, Austin.
Waddy is survived by his son, Roger and his wife Judith of Bloomington; grandson, Dennis and his wife Nuala of Mound; two great- granddaughters: Delaney and Kiera. Also surviving is one sister, Ethel Corbin of Austin; one brother, Richard (Pat) of Sun City, Ariz.; brothers-in-law: Willard Knutson of Longview, Texas, and Atwell Morehouse of Albert Lea. Nieces and nephews include: Diane Morehouse Salisbury, Abigail Wakefield Bendiks, Jackie Corbin Bowek, Susan Corbin McAllister, Barbara Corbin Nerby, Elizabeth Fisher LeFevour, David Fisher, Larry Knutson, Janet Knutson MacClary, Linda Knutson Hines, Tom Johnson, Tim Johnson and Ann Marie Johnson Kisco.
Memorials preferred to First Lutheran Church Albert Lea or the American Heart Association.