Chester Whitman Johnson

Chet passed away at his home in Edmonds at the age of 102 with complications from congestive heart failure. Born on a house boat in Port Gamble, Washington, Chet grew up on Bainbridge Island where his parents, Johan Arnt and Addye Johnson built their house on Rolling Bay. When the mosquito fleet ceased operation, the family moved to Queen Anne Hill where Chet graduated from high school in 1928. At age 16, Chet earned his 15 minutes of fame by swimming from West Point in Seattle to Skiff Point on Bainbridge Island. During the depression years, Chet worked at a variety of jobs including working for the Seattle Park Department including opening the East Green Lake Field house, lifeguarding at the Crystal pool, working for Boeing, and also was a barnstorming pilot. In 1932 and 1933 Chet flew for Mamer Air Transport flying a Ford Tri-Motor carrying mail between Seattle and Spokane. He eventually went to work for the Seattle Police Department in 1936 where he worked as a homicide detective for many years. In 1938, he married Doris Buckley, a member of the world record-holding Washington Athletic Club freestyle relay team. Chet built them a brick home on Bagley Street near Green Lake, which is where they started their family. Then, in 1947 he moved his family to the Meadowdale area of Edmonds where he built the home he and Doris lived in during the summer months. The family ended up living in a large army surplus tent for part of their first year in Edmonds until Chet finished building the house. After retiring from the Seattle Police department in 1961, Chet spent twelve years building a nine-unit apartment building on the upper half of his Edmonds property, doing all the work himself. In 1977, Chet and Doris started wintering in the Palm Springs area, where they kept active golfing and swimming. A daily swim was a part of Chets routine well past his 101 st birthday. Chet is survived by his wife of 72 years, Doris; his two children: Dave (Inge) Johnson and Jill (Jack) Fritz; four grand children: Julie (Dan) Reeder, Kristie Fritz, Ken (Amy Montanye) Johnson, Kurt (Sheri) Fritz; and, four great-grand children: Allison, Andi, Kortney Hunter. At Chets request, no service will be held. Memorial gifts may be made to: Providence Hospice of Snohomish County, 2731 Wetmore Avenue #500, Everett, WA 98201 or at href=http://www.providence.org/phhc www.providence.org/phhc .