Arlin Delvin Johnson, 89, was born on August 27, 1922 in Kemah, Texas. He passed away after a long illness on May 22, 2012 at the family ranch off of Freeman Flat Road near King City.

SERVICE INFORMATION:

Arlin's service will be a Funeral Mass, 10a.m., Tuesday, May 29, 2012 at St. John's Catholic Church, 503 N. Third St., King City, Calif. Interment will follow at San Lucas District Cemetery, Cattlemans Road, San Lucas, Calif. A luncheon will be held following the graveside interment at Eddington Funeral Chapel.

Arlin grew up in Kemah and in Galveston, Texas and was one of nine children. His father was Mark Dallas Johnson and his mother was Ella May Dick. His brothers and sisters were May, Horvin, Madelyn, Walter, Ivan, Mark, June and Dell.

He married Laverne Lynch and together they had three daughters: Janet (Bill) Dalman, Arlene (James) Conn and Carlene (Billy) Gidmid. They were later blessed with five grandchildren: Jon (Nancy) Dalman, Chris (Yanne) Dalman, Christine Gidmid and Kathleen Gidmid.

After Laverne's death, Arlin married Elizabeth Whiteman. Elizabeth, a widow, also had three daughters: Terry (Jim) Babcock, Cathy (Stan) Ames and Nancy (Barry) Clover. Her seven grandchildren were Bill Farnsworth, Jason Bidwell, Debbie Deshaies, Brad (Heather) Purinton, Steven (Julie) Purinton, David (Lisa) Clover and Kimberly Surber.

Arlin and Elizabeth took immense joy in the great grandchildren they shared: Kate Dalman, Drew Dalman, Lucas Dalman, Randy Heath, Courtney Deshaies, Grace Purinton, Logan Purinton, Austin Farnsworth, Jordan Mitchell, Mason Clover, Cameron Clover and Ashley Surber.

Arlin is preceded in death by his wife, Elizabeth; daughters, Janet, Arlene and Carlene; son-in-laws, Jim, Stan and Barry.

Just before World War II, in 1940, Arlin joined the United States Navy. After serving on an escort vessel based at Mare Island, he volunteered for submarine service. Upon completion of his training at New London, Connecticut, he joined the U.S.S. Tilefish 307.

The Tilefish was a Balao class fleet submarine commissioned on October 25th, 1943. She was 312 feet long and 27 feet wide. She was powered by four diesel engines on the surface and four battery-powered electric motors when submerged. She carried 24 Mark 14 torpedoes, each loaded with 643 pounds of explosives. Between weapons and machinery, there was very little room left for Tilefish's crew of eighty. Arlin recalled storing bags of potatoes in the shower at the beginning of a patrol.

Arlin was a Quartermaster First Class. He was stationed in the sub's conning tower where he assisted the navigation officer with general navigation tasks and, more importantly, with plotting attacks. The Tilefish sank five warships and five large merchants ships during the war.

One of Arlin's duties was to be first onto the watch platform when the sub surfaced. On one occasion, he opened the hatch and climbed to his station just as the early warning radar on the periscope sounded the crash dive alarm. A Japanese plane was detected. All vents opened and the sub went down faster than a rock. The captain, next in line to man the bridge, was washed back down the hatch by green water. He managed to close the hatch before the boat filled. Arlin was still up top.

As the sub went down, Arlin clung to the periscope. Tilefish leveled off at sixty feet, periscope depth. Arlin hung on to the scope with both hands. Minutes longer than hours passed. The Japanese plane flew out of range none the wiser. Tilefish resurfaced. Officers and crew greeted their soaked Quartermaster with immense relief.

A combat patrol lasted for at least two months, not counting preliminary training and shakedown exercises. Arlin sailed on all six of Tilefish's combat patrols. 249 U.S. submarines made combat patrols during World War II. 52 didn't come back. Admiral Chester Nimitz awarded Arlin the Silver Star for his gallant service.

After World War II, Arlin worked at the Salinas Fire Department and built houses on his days off. He eventually became a successful building contractor. After his retirement from contracting in 1984, he built a ranch home off Freeman Flat and entered the cattle business.

He and Elizabeth were devoted parishioners of St. John's Church in King City. Arlin was a Knights of Columbus member. He and Liz were active in other community groups, including Silver Kings and Queens and volunteers for the Salinas Valley Fair. Arlin helped weigh stock for twenty years at fair time.

Arlin was a skilled and avid hunter and fisherman. He enjoyed many hunting and fishing trips to Alaska, Canada and the Sierra Nevada. On one Sierras trip he hid behind a tree and watched a mountain lion trail him. The big cat reached the tree, but didn't discover Arlin on its other side, much to his relief.

Most of all, Arlin and Elizabeth loved and enjoyed their large extended family. Arlin had great stories to tell them all!

DONATIONS:

Those wishing to make donations may do so to the American Cancer Society or to a charity of your chioce.