Person:George Johnson (2)

George ³Buster² Johnson

Col. George ³Buster² Johnson, 76, died Wednesday (2/13/1985) at the Veterans Administration Medical Center. He was born Oct. 5, 1908, in Hartland, son of George W. and Grace (Marcell) Johnson. He graduated from Woodstock High School in 1929 and attended the Springfield (Mass.) Business Institute. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army-Air Force as a glider pilot, flying in five missions: Normandy on June 6, 1944; Southern France, June 15, 1944; Holland, Sept. 18, 1944; and Rhine at Wesel March 24, 1945. He received a presidential citation, two bronze stars, the Croix de Guerre and the Orange Lanyard. He was commander of the Ora E. Paul Post 24, American Legion, in Woodstock and a Woodstock school board member. He was founder of the Woodstock Civil Air Patrol in the 1950s and liaison officer for the Air Force Academy, USAF Reserve from 1947-1968. He worked for the Woodstock Garage from 1929-1953, when he and Allan Brownell founded A & B Motors in Woodstock. At the time of his death he was acting as president. A & B Motors is the second oldest Saab dealership in New England, starting with that line in 1958. He was a member of the National World War II Glider Pilot Assoc. and an associate trustee of the Silent Wings Museum in Terrell, Tx. In the 1930s, he played professional football, and from 1931-33 was the Eastern U.S. ski jump champion. He was one of the first three people to ride up the first ski town in America on Gilbert¹s Hill in Woodstock. Survivors include his wife, Rowena (Benton) Johnson of White River Jct.; two sons, Bruce Johnson of Springfield and Dale Johnson of South Woodstock; two stepdaughters, Barbara Hunt of Hartland Four Corners and Janice Willey of Monkton; three sisters, Helen Watts and Hilda Racette, both of Barnard, and Peg Foley of Abilene, Tx.; six grandchildren; and an aunt, nieces and nephews. A memorial service was held Friday in the South Woodstock Community Church. The Rev. David Wright of the Beth-El Christian Fellowship Church in Barre officiated. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. Memorial contributions may be made to the Silent Wings Museum, in care of the Cabot Funeral Home, Woodstock. -Vermont Standard, February 21, 1985

1. ↑ Vermont Standard, February 21, 1985.
2. ↑ Vermont Standard, February 21, 1985.