Ted, 70, was a loving, caring husband, father, brother and friend. Ted passed away July 16, 2015, due to complications of Alzheimer’s. He was born in Kansas City, Missouri, on February 15, 1945, to Clarence Ted and Lovice Maxine (Jameson) Johnson.  He moved to Richland with his parents in 1948 and attended Richland schools until 1962.  He graduated from Mercer Island High School in 1963 and from Central Washington State University in 1967 with a major in mathematics.

Ted met Patricia (Pat) Brakus at Central and they were married in September 1967.  They met on a dance floor and he swept her off her feet!  He loved country music, often remarking the best bars play both kinds of music: “Country” and “Western.”  He also loved 50s and 60s music, and his all-time favorite song was “Louie, Louie.”  Ted served eight years as an officer in the Air Force.  He and Pat were stationed in Florida at Eglin AFB, Florida and Hickam AFB in Hawaii. Their two daughters, Dana and Teresa, were born in Hawaii.

After serving in the Air Force, the family moved back to Richland where Ted had a 23 year career with Boeing Computer Services.  Ted often told his friends that he could not believe that he was paid to do something he loved so much.  So many friends were met at work. They had a lot of fun water skiing on the Columbia and Snake rivers, making fun-themed cakes like a six pack of beer, boats and a tennis racquet.  One cake had a snow ski scene and there was yellow snow!

Ted was an avid tennis player.  He played on one of the first USTA teams from the Tri-Cities that went to a national tournament.  He was able to play tennis until the last couple of years - thanks to the seniors at CBRC.  We are sure he will forever be hiding tennis balls in his pockets.

Besides tennis, Ted loved boating, water skiing, white water rafting on the Lower Salmon River in Idaho, working on old cars and bargain hunting at garage sales.  He loved playing Bridge and had many books about how to play and his favorite part of the newspaper was the bridge column.  He was a member of American Contract Bridge League (ACBL).  He was very handy and could fix almost anything.  He helped his sister, Lea, turn her one-car carport into a two-car garage.  Together, they finished his unfinished basement.  He was always cracking corny jokes.  He thought he was funny, and he’d tell you, “if you don’t believe me, just ask me!”

Ted was a bit of an adrenalin junkie: from waterskiing in the canals of West Richland and sky diving in his youth, to roller coasters and white water rafting in his later years.  While in Hawaii, he tried hang gliding, surfing and night SCUBA diving. 

Ted and his family traveled the Caribbean, Europe, Costa Rica, Panama and Egypt where he got to ride a camel by the pyramids. 

He could frequently be found snacking on pretzels, and cookies that he would stack from his wrist to his elbow. He loved $.99 Whoppers at Burger King and Full Meal Deals at Dairy Queen on Jadwin. 

He was a big supporter of sporting events and went to all the games for his children and grandchildren.

Ted's family would like to thank the staff and care-givers at Callaway Gardens and Heartlinks Hospice.  Their care of Ted during the final year of life was very caring and special.

Ted is survived by his wife of 47 years, Pat, daughters; Dana (Trevor) Pearson; Teresa (James) Harvey, sister; Lea Hawkins and grandchildren Allie and Kaylie Pearson and Frank and Henry Harvey.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Alzheimer's Research.

A celebration of Ted's life will be held at Events at Sunset on Friday, July 24, 2015 at 11:00 a.m.