Wallace A. Johnson, 87

SOUTH YARMOUTH — Wallace A. Johnson died on January 2, 2011, at his home in South Yarmouth at the age of 87. Dr. Johnson was born in 1923 in Worcester, Mass. He leaves his wife of 60 years, Marion (Anderson) Johnson, two daughters, Nancy L. Johnson of Quincy, Mass., and Louise K. Bacon and her husband, Richard of Weymouth, Mass. He is survived by a brother, Gordon P. Johnson of Waterbury, Vt., many nieces and nephews, and was predeceased by his sister, Muriel C. Dahlstrom of Worcester. He also leaves two grandchildren, Jeffrey R. Bacon and his wife Jessica, of Shrewsbury, Mass., and Laura M. Bacon, of Princeton, N.J., and her fiance Jonathan Russell.

Dr. Johnson attended South H.S. in Worcester and graduated from Bates College (BA), University of Vermont (M Ed) and Calvin Coolidge College (Ed D). During World War II, he was a combat engineer in the 80th division, 305th Combat Engineers serving in England and France. He was awarded a Purple Heart for injuries received in battle south of Metz, France, in 1944.

Dr. Johnson was a teacher-coach in Chester, Vt., a guidance director in Auburn, Mass, a guidance counselor at Commerce H.S. in Worcester, an assistant principal at Grafton H.S., Mass. and a teacher and principal at Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School. He also served as Waterfront Director at Camp Blanchard in Sutton, Mass., and was summertime director at Wendell Parker Nature Training School of the Worcester Natural History Museum.

Memberships at the Federated Church of Hyannis, Howard Lodge, Cape Cod Men's Club, American Disabled Veterans, Bass River Golf Club, Massachusetts Ombudsman and National Retired Teachers were among his activities. Dr. Johnson was awarded "Volunteer of the Year" by Elder Services of Cape Cod in 2005 for his work as an ombudsman in area nursing homes. He enjoyed being outside and his favorite leisure time pursuits included family time, travel, gardening, bird-watching, fishing, golfing, beaching, boating and swimming.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 8, 2011, at 11 a.m. at the Federated Church of Hyannis, 320 Main Street. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of one's choice.