Richard Baum "Rich" Johnson
Obituaries
d page 4C - February 27, 2022
Richard B.
Johnson
February 22, 1928 - February 6, 2022
Richard Baum Johnson,
Senior Chief Petty Officer,
USN (retired), passed away
quietly on February 6,
2022, just shy of his 94th
birthday, following a short
illness. Rich was born on
February 22, 1928, in Pueblo, CO, to the late Joe and
Genevieve (Baum) Johnson. The family later moved
to Buena Vista where he graduated from Buena Vista
High School.
Proudly serving over 25 years in the US Navy, Rich’s
career as a submariner took him around the world. He
was awarded the WWII Victory Medal, the Vietnam
Service Medal, two National Defense Service Medals
and five Good Conduct Medals. The Navy also lead him
to the love of his life, Ruth Clover Converse, of Stafford
Springs, CT, and they were wed on October 30, 1960.
They raised two daughters.
Following retirement from the Navy in 1971, the
family returned to Colorado, settling in Grand Junction.
Rich completed his college degree at Mesa State and
worked numerous jobs as a diesel mechanic and welder,
but his real passions were farming and ranching. He
finally focused on those passions full time in the 1980s.
For the next thirty years, Rich was either driving a
tractor or riding a horse.
Rich is survived by his daughters, Penny (Dan)
Lyons, Kim (Joe) Giannone, both of Grand Junction
and his sister, Genevieve Avery of Buena Vista. He is
preceded in death by wife, Ruth who passed October
2017; brothers, Edward and Robert; and sister, Joanne.
A day of remembering will be held on Friday, April
22nd. Time and location details will be published in
April. Memories and dedications can be shared at www.
callahan-edfast.com
