David was born in Holdrege, Nebraska to Kenneth and Mary Virginia Johnson. He grew up in New Braunfels, Texas, where he excelled at New Braunfels High School, athletically and academically, lettering in baseball and basketball.
He was actively involved in scouting, earning the highest honors as an Eagle Scout. His legacy in Scouting continued as a Cubmaster for his sons’ Cub Scout Pack. His son Michael became an Eagle Scout, his daughter Kristi brought her sons up through scouting and also served as Cubmaster for her own sons’ Pack, and all three of David’s grandsons earned their Eagle Scout Rank.
He continued his academic career and began his military career at The University of Texas at Austin and the Air Force ROTC, following in his father’s footsteps into the United States Air Force. Much of his 23 ½ year career in the Air Force was spent as a pilot, flying KC-135 refueling tankers.
In the same year he was commissioned, he married the love of his life, Loretta Marguerite “Rita” McAfee on September 5, 1970. In their 54 years of marriage, they lived in 7 different states and raised three children. As a military family often does, they collected friends from each place they lived who are as dear to their hearts as family.
Shortly after David retired from the Air Force in 1993, he launched into a second career as a Systems Engineer working for The Boeing Company. He dedicated himself to this position until his retirement in 2012, when he decided enough was enough and he wanted to spend more time with his wife.
David and Rita started splitting their time between Littleton and then Lakewood in Colorado and The Villages in Florida following his retirement. In 2016, they officially moved to The Villages full-time, where they enjoyed golf, pickle ball, and friends in the Colorado Club together. They were also both active members of Hope Lutheran Church and sang in the Voices of Hope choir.
David is survived by his wife Loretta “Rita” Johnson (nee McAfee), daughter Kristi (David) Benson, son Patrick (Linda) Johnson, grandsons Andrew Benson, Ryan Benson, and Grant Benson, granddaughter Lauren Benson, younger brothers Mark Johnson and Kevin (Gail) Johnson, and many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, and their families. He was preceded in death by his parents Kenneth and Mary Virginia Johnson and his son Michael Johnson.
The service will be held Friday, April 11, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., at Hope Lutheran Church in The Villages, Florida.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation in memoriam to Hope Lutheran Church in The Villages (hope4all.church), Haitian Timoun Foundation (htflive.org), or to the charitable organization of your choice.