Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, December 24, 2022

Mountain Views-News Saturday, December 24, 2022 

REMEMBRANCES 

RICHARD (DICK) JOHNSON

October 25, 1931 – November 13, 2022 

Richard Leroy Johnson, affectionately known as Dick Johnson, 
passed away November 13th, 2022 of Natural Causes. He was 91. He 
was preceded in death by his lovely wife Elva Johnson who passed in 
March of 2021. Dick had been a resident of Sierra Madre CA since 
moving his family there in 1964. He was currently a resident of the 
British Home in Sierra Madre. 

Dick was born in Los Angeles CA on October 25th, 1931 to Mernie 
and Edna Johnson. He grew up in San Gabriel CA with his older 
sister Shirley and attended Alhambra High School. Dick had many 
memories of growing up in the San Gabriel Valley. One of them was 
during World War II, General Patton spoke at his Middle School 
to encourage children to buy war bonds. He grew up during the 
Depression, and he loved making his own toys. When he was old 
enough to drive, he saved his own money and bought a car. He loved 
working on cars and was known for making them lower and faster. 
At one time he was a regular at the Santa Ana Drag Strip now known 
as John Wayne Airport. 

After serving in the Air Force during the Korean War, Dick went to 
school at San Diego State University to become an aerospace engineer. 
He worked full time while attending school in San Diego. 

He married Elva Pickett of Sierra Madre August 7th, 1955. She was 
the love of his life and they were married 66 years at the time of her 
death. He worked at Convair in San Diego and he and Elva started 
their family there. In 1964, he got a job offer from Garret Air Research 
in Torrance CA so they moved to Sierra Madre CA on Montecito 
Ave where they lived until they moved to the British Home in 
2014. 

While working at Garret, he worked on many of the Apollo Rockets 
and also the Space Lab Station. In addition, he worked on many military 
projects to make aviation safer for military personnel. 
Dick was very involved in the community of Sierra Madre. He was Chairman of the Art Fair, President 
of the Historical Preservation Society, and a Library Board Trustee. In addition, he volunteered for the 
AYSO Region 2, coached Little League and Pony League teams and served on the Board of Trustees 
for the Sierra Madre United Methodist Church. Dick was named Sierra Madre's Older Person of the 
Year in 2014. He loved Sierra Madre! He donated to many different charities but his favorite was to help 
Veterans. 


One of his true passions was working on the Montecito home that was designated a Historical Landmark. 
It was built in 1881 and was a Victorian 3 story home. It was built entirely of wood and required 
lots of love and care. Dick and Elva took much pride in keeping the home restored the entire time while 
residing there. 

Dick is survived by his 5 children, Cristii Johnson Cox (Dave Cox), Kari Johnson Janzen (Tom Jan-
zen). Heidi Johnson McAteer (Mike McAteer), Rick Johnson (Dianna Johnson), Jason Johnson, and 11 
grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren with one on the way. Dick and Elva raised their five children in 
Sierra Madre CA. Dick was very involved in his children’s lives. He coached their baseball and soccer 
teams and always had time to play catch or help work on school projects. He was known in the neighborhood 
as the guy that fixed cars, motorcycles and bicycles. He loved working in his garage, making 
sculptures and painting art. 

LETTER TO THE EDITOR 

About Sierra Madre’s new Mayor, Ed Garcia 

I showed support for Mr. Garcia during his campaign for Mayor by putting a few of his signs in our 
front yard to help people get out and vote. I was happy to endorse him, even though I am too young to 
vote.

 I have known Mr. Garcia for a few years. He is always present at city events and games (softball, baseball, 
etc), and is always very welcoming to young people in the City. 

I think that Mr. Garcia is a very kind person and is always happy to see people in the community. As 
Mayor, he is talking to all of us about his priorities, and stands up for our City. He will serve our city 
well, and make sure that all the decisions he makes are factoring in the voices of our community members, 
even young citizens like me. 

Thank you for your time. 

JBCooperPasadena Scout Troop 21 

Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com 


WALKING SIERRA MADRE - The Social Side 

by Deanne Davis 

“A Christmas Eve Blessing…May Peace be your 
gift at Christmas and your blessing all year 
through.” 
“Bless us Lord this Christmas with quietness of 
mind. 

Teach us to be patient and always to be kind.” 
Helen Steiner Rice 

Today is Christmas Eve and tomorrow is 
Christmas. Many folks are still shopping and 
face a pile of presents to wrap tonight. Some 
procrastinators have put off putting together 
bicycles, wagons, or dollhouses and will be up 
late tonight but it will all be worth it tomorrow 
when shining faces see the thing they wanted 
most. 
I thought a lot about what the last Christmas 
picture should be and decided on this one, Jesus, 
the Reason for the Season. 
The world hasn’t gotten a lot better this past year with various versions of Covid still 
hanging over our heads and the stock market dropping like a rock. But I’ve noticed 
that people seem to be kinder and friendlier. More doors are held open, more humorous 
comments are exchanged on the grocery lines and more folks seem to be smiling 
at each other for no reason at all. Of course, I have a tendency to look at the world 
through rose-colored glasses so this could just be selective viewing. This piece of wisdom 
came my way recently and I thought I’d pass it along: “When in doubt, seal your 
lips and see what happens. Some silences will communicate far beyond words. Some 
silences will communicate nothing, which might turn out to be precisely what the 
topic warrants.” There are comments, occasionally, that come our way that leave us 
speechless, which is probably a good thing! 

One of John’s favorite pieces of Christmas music was Stan Rogers version of “Christmas 
in The Trenches” by John McDermott. This touching true story of the 1914 Christmas 
truce made us both cry every year when he played it on his Christmas radio program 
on KPFK-FM. 

CHRISTMAS IN THE TRENCHES 

Oh my name is Francis Tolliver, I come from LiverpoolTwo years ago the war was waiting for me after schoolFrom Belgium and to Flanders, Germany to hereI fought for King and country I love dear 

Twas Christmas in the trenches and the frost so bitter hungThe frozen fields of France where still no Christmas songs were sungOur families back in England were toasting us that dayTheir brave and glorious lads so far away 

I was lying with my mess mates on the cold and rocky groundWhen across the lines of battle came a most peculiar soundSays I now listen up me boys, each soldier strained to hearAs one young German voice sang out so clear 

He's singing bloody well you know, my partner says to meSoon one by one each German voice joined in in harmonyThe cannons rested silent and the gas cloud rolled no moreAs Christmas brought us respite from the war 

As soon as they were finished and a reverent pause was spentGod Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen struck up some lads from KentThe next thing sang was Stille Nach tis 'Silent Night' says IAnd in two tongues one song filled up that sky 

There's someone coming towards us now the front line sentry saidAll sights were fixed on one lone figure trudging from their sideHis truce flag like a Christmas Star shone on the plane so brightAs he bravely trudged unarmed into the night 

Then one by one on either side, walked in to No Mans LandWith neither gun nor bayonet, we met there hand to handWe shared some secret brandy and we wished each other wellAnd in a flare lit football game we gave them hell 

We traded chocolates, cigarettes and photographs from homeThese sons and father far away from families of their ownTon Sanders played the squeeze box and they had a violinThis curious and unlikely band of men 

Soon daylight stole upon us and France was France once moreWith sad farewells we each began to settle back to warBut the question haunted every heart that lived that wondrous nightWhose family have I fixed within my sights 

Twas Christmas in the trenches and the frost so bitter hungThe frozen fields of France were warmed, the songs of peace were sungFor the walls they'd kept between us to exact the work of warHad been crumbled and were gone forever more 

Oh my name is Francis Tolliver, from Liverpool I dwellEach Christmas comes since World War I have learned its lesson well 
For the one who calls the shots won't be among the dead and lameAnd on each end of the rifle we're the same. 

God bless you all, dear Walking Sierra Madre readers, and may this Christmas be the 
best one ever. Rejoice! Unto us a Savior is born! 

My book page: Amazon.com: Deanne Davis 
Christmas is about over but if you’ve missed someone, my books:
“Sunrises and Sunflowers Speak Hope”
“A Tablespoon of Love, A Tablespoon of Laughter”
Would be really nice gifts. They’re on Amazon.com“Star of Wonder” a delightful Christmas Kindle story, where four lonely people find 
love following a strange new star on Christmas Eve, is there, too.