Frederick W. Johns, 97 of Roanoke, Indiana, passed away on Friday afternoon, February 2, 2024. Fred was employed by Ford Motor Company as a tool designer and design engineer for 37 years. He had attended Wixom High school and graduated from the Ford Trade School in Dearborn, Michigan. Fred served in the US Army from 1945 to 1947 in Japan, where he was a Radio Operator in the Control Tower on the Showla Army Airbase in Itami, Japan. He was active in Boy Scouts with his boys and loved traveling with his family to Northern Michigan. As a hobby, he was a professional racecar driver of midget open wheel racecars, and in his later years restored vintage racecars. Fred was a member of the American Legion Post 160 of Roanoke and the VFW 2689 of Huntington, as well as the Seminary U.M. Church in Roanoke. He was also a Mason for 70 years.
Fred was born on January 1, 1927, in Detroit, MI, the son of the late Arthur C. and Viola M. (Gilders) Johns.
He was united in marriage to Carolyn (Brown) Hartley on March 25, 2000, in Roanoke. His wife Carolyn survives.
Additional survivors include two sons: Kevin W. (and Cynthia) Johns of Henryville, IN and Steven F. (and Laura Hutton) Johns of Philadelphia, PA; two daughters: Debra A. Kelbert of Novi, MI and Jeanine Jo Wilson of Taylor, TX; a stepson: Keith (and Nancy) Hartley of Roanoke and stepdaughter: Julia (and Garry) Rollins of Indianapolis. Seven grandchildren, five step-grandchildren, seventeen great grandchildren and five step-great grandchildren.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, February 6, 2024, from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Myers Funeral Home Huntington Chapel, 2901 Guilford St., Huntington, Indiana.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. at the Seminary U.M. Church, 285 Seminary St., Roanoke, IN. There will be one hour of visitation prior to the service at the church.
Interment will take place at the Glenwood Cemetery in Roanoke.
Memorial donations can be made out to either the Seminary U.M. Church or the American Legion Post 160, sent in care of Myers Funeral Home, 2901 Guilford St., Huntington, Indiana.
