Obituary of L. Wayne Johnson

Johnson , Dr. L. Wayne, 92, of St. Petersburg, Florida passed away on August 19, 2015. He is survived by his beloved wife of 69 years, June Johnson; his daughters Kathy Adams and her husband Jim of Greenwich, CT, Laurie Epps and her husband Steve of Asheville, NC; three grandchildren Karlyn Adams, Roanne Adams Wahba and her husband Johnny, and Daniel Epps; and two great-granddaughters Sienna Adams and Phaedie Wahba. His family will remember him for his loving kindness, generosity, strong work ethic, sweet sense of humor, and wise counsel. He was deeply loved and will be missed by all. Wayne was born in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Lawrence and Phyllis Johnson. He lived in Grand Rapids, Michigan where he graduated from Ottawa Hills High School. He attended Grand Rapids Jr. College and Denison University before entering Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago, from which he received a doctorate of medicine in 1948. It was at Northwestern that he met June; they married in 1946. In 1950, he did his residency in St Petersburg in orthopedic surgery and decided to stay. In 1953, his family joined him where he served as an Air Force physician, stationed in Japan, for 2 years. They returned to St Petersburg in 1954 where he practiced orthopedic surgery until his retirement in 1992. He was a staff member of Bayfront Medical Center, St. Anthony's Hospital, and was a founding member of Edward White Hospital, where he served as the first chief of staff. He did volunteer work at the American Legion of Crippled Children's Hospital. After retiring from private practice, he went on to teach at the University of South Florida Medical School in Tampa, and at the Veterans Administration in St. Petersburg. He was a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, American Medical Association, Suncoasters, Squires Club, Feather Sound Country Club, St Petersburg Racquet Club, Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg Yacht Club, and First Presbyterian Church. He was an avid and lifelong sailor and tennis player. He loved to travel the world and spend time with family and friends. He cared deeply for his patients, co-workers, friends and family. The family would like to express special thanks to the Bayshore Home Health caregivers who assisted him during his last years, and to Suncoast Hospice. A gathering of friends and family will be held Monday, September 14, 2015 11:00- 11:30am with Wayne's memorial service at 11:30am with the reception following, all at Anderson McQueen funeral home, 2201 Dr. MLK Jr St. N., St Petersburg. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be sent to Doctors Without Borders USA, PO Box 5030, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5030 or online at www.doctorswithoutborders.org.