Phillip Evans Johnson, 69, of Pensacola, Florida passed away peacefully at home on July 16, 2021 after a brief battle with cancer.

Phil was born January 31, 1952 in Pensacola's Old Sacred Heart Hospital to Walter "Johnny" Johnson and Bennie Elene Thomas Johnson. He was preceded in death by them both.

He is survived by his loving wife of thirty-eight years, Janice "Jan" Marie Horner Johnson; sister, Pam (Dennis) Dugger; nephew, Phillip Dugger; niece, Kathryn Dugger; brother in law, Ron (Ellen) Horner of Jeffersonville, Kentucky; and nephew, James Daniel (Amanda) Horner of Huntington, West Virginia.

Phil was a graduate of Woodham High School, Class of 1970. He was active in NROTC while he attended the University of West Florida graduating and receiving his commission as a Naval Officer in 1976.

He then began flight training with the United States Navy earning his wings of gold and was selected to fly the Grumman F-14 "Tomcat". He was deployed twice on the newly commissioned USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier as a member of VF-142, the Ghostriders. These tours of duty included deployment to the Indian Ocean during Iranian Hostage Rescue Mission. Phil's awards include the Navy Unit Commendation and the Naval Expeditionary Medal.

Active-duty Navy life ended in December of 1982 with Phil serving as flight instructor in VT-10 at NAS Pensacola. He maintained flying proficiency as a member of the Naval Reserve and was employed by Burnside-Ott instructing basic and radio instrument flying utilizing high fidelity flight simulators.

Phil and Jan were married February 14, 1983. That same year, they purchased their first home and Phil was hired by Northwest Airlines as a Commercial Airline Pilot. Northwest merged with Delta Air Lines in 2008 from which Phil retired in January 2017 as Captain on the Boeing 757-767 aircraft.

Phil's hobbies included golfing, skiing, and sailing. He and Jan shared a passion for rescuing dachshunds.

The family will receive friends at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, August 6, 2021, followed by a memorial service at 9:00 in Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel and interment at Barrancas National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Pensacola Humane Society.

Many thanks to the wonderful staff at Regency Hospice – Pensacola and Dr. Lonnie Miller.