Phillip F. Johnson, Past Principal, Dies at 80

Phillip Frederick Johnson, former principal of Walter Reed Junior High School in North Hollywood, where he founded the school’s program for gifted students, has died in Woodland Hills. He was 80.

Johnson was a teacher, registrar and vice principal during his 28 years with the Los Angeles Unified School District. He retired in 1974 after 12 years as principal at Walter Reed where he started the individualized honors program for gifted students in 1971.

He served as president of the San Fernando Valley Coordinating Councils Area Assn., president of the North Hollywood Rotary Club in 1969 and as a member of the North Hollywood YMCA Board.

He was born Nov. 1, 1909, in Des Moines, Iowa. In World War II, he was in the infantry, becoming a lieutenant colonel. He served 28 years in the Army Reserve.

He is survived by his wife, June Johnson of Woodland Hills; sons, Phillip Johnson Jr. of Portland, Ore., and William Michael Johnson of Watsonville, Calif.; daughter, JoAnne Johnson Sweeney of Portland; daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Johnson of Portland, Ore.; brother, Richard Morrow Johnson of Los Angeles; and two grandchildren.

Johnson died Monday of a ruptured aorta, his widow said.

A memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Mel’s Catholic Church in Woodland Hills, where Johnson sang in the choir. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the North Hollywood Charity Foundation in care of Quisenberry Insurance Co., 4342 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, 91602. J.T. Oswald Mortuary in Reseda is handling arrangements.