Kenneth Roger Johnson's Obituary
Kenneth ROGER Johnson, formally of Columbus, Ohio and Patagonia, Arizona, passed away Sunday, August 27, 2023 at his home in Tucson with his family and wife of sixty two years Jan, by his side. He was eighty five years old.
His career included radio announcing, advertising executive and education, teaching in the Worthington (Ohio) Public Schools for twenty eight years. He served on the concept committee and was a founding staff member for the Worthington (High School) Alternative Program. He was on the feasibility committee study for a second high school in Worthington, Kilbourne, and taught there from its founding until his retirement in 1998. Roger also served as Cross Country coach and Head Track coach at Thomas Worthington and Kilbourne High Schools.
During the summers of 1978-1982 he founded The Show Place Theater on Roanoke Island on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The family and the troupe, primarily cast from Worthington young adults, produced sixty shows a summer in the outdoor theater which Roger and a crew from Worthington built.
After retirement Roger and Jan moved to Patagonia, Arizona where they lived for sixteen years. He designed the concept for their straw bale home. Roger also established the Tin Shed Theater where he produced several plays before moving to be with family in Columbia Maryland, and then to Tucson for the same reason.
Roger is survived by his wife, Jan, son Steve Johnson (Pam), daughter, Laura Burge (Jim), grandchildren Charlie Burge (Alana), Peyton Johnson and Will Johnson and great-grandson Sky. He is also survived by brothers William Dale Johnson (Lois) and Louis Hershel - Bud (Sandra), nephews David, Donald (Belva Marie), Doug and Scott and nieces Donna Sue, Debbie and Sarah .
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