Wiley Lester Johnson, 96, passed away Friday, April 15, 2016, at his residence in Fulton. He was born August 12, 1919 to the late John E. Johnson and the late Lydia Catherine McKee Johnson of the Salem Community. He served in the U.S. Air Force during World War II. After the war he graduated from Mississippi State University and was a mathematics teacher. He was recruited to work for the newly formed Army Ballistic Missile Agency which became the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). He worked on various missile programs, including designing the first Redstone Rocket Control Computer. He worked at the Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, AL with the team that designed and constructed the guidance and control systems for the Jupiter Missile, Pershing Missile, Mercury, Gemini, and the Apollo/Saturn program which resulted in the first Manned Lunar Landing. He retired from NASA on March 30, 1978.
Public visitation will be held from 2:00 to 4:00 pm, Sunday, April 17, 2016 at Senter Funeral Home. A private family graveside service will be held at 12:00 pm on Tuesday, April 19, 2016 at Itawamba Memorial Gardens.
Senter Funeral Home has been entrusted in assisting the family.
Survivors include his wife, Ruth Mondell Johnson of Fulton; Sister, Hildred Howell of Fulton; sister-in-law, Eva Lois Johnson of Fulton, Nephews: Dr. Charles (Martha) Johnson, Dr. Dwight (Brenda) Johnson, Richard (Maria) Johnson, Dr. Gary (Nancy) Johnson, and Dr. Michael (Ann) Howell; Nieces: Carol (Lemois) Oswalt, Cynthia Johnson (Gene) Syarto, S. Janice Howell (George) Newbury III; several great and great, great Nieces and Nephews, and a great, great-nephew named after him, Eli Wiley Chism.
Preceded in death by his parents, brothers: Vester, Elmer, Alvia, Lemois, Alton, and Dalton Johnson; Sisters: Beatrice Stephens, Vera Johnson, and Oleta Senter.
