Mel Johnson, 77, of LaPorte, Indiana, died at 7:56 p.m. on Monday, June 26, 2006 at his home.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 1, at Cutler Funeral Home with Pastor Jay Loucks officiating. Visitation will be held on Friday from 3:00-8:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. Burial will be in Patton Cemetery.
Mel was born April 30, 1929, in Calumet City, Illinois to the late Thorston & Edna (Lambert) Johnson. On April 12, 1952, in Hammond, Indiana, he married Alice E. Black who survives.
Also surviving are daughters Cynthia (Brian) Swanson of LaPorte and Kathy Corbett of Indianapolis, IN; sons Terry (LaQueta) Johnson of Coral Springs, FL, Bruce Johnson of Milpitas, CA and Keith Johnson of LaPorte; and grandchildren Sheila & Byron Corbett, Kayla Johnson, Tarea Kruszeski, Ryan Borzilleri, Salina Vernon and Nina Heyliger.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Thorston "Tom" Johnson, Jr.
Mel retired as a pharmacist. He had been a pharmacist at Northside Pharmacy in LaPorte. He was founder and chief pharmacist of the LaPorte Hospital pharmacy following the merger of the Holy Family and Community Hospitals.
He graduated from Hammond High School and Purdue University. He was a member of Lamb's Chapel United Methodist Church and was a former deacon and Sunday school teacher at the LaPorte First Baptist Church. His memberships included the American Legion, the American Society of Hospital Pharmacists, the Indiana Pharmaceutical Association and formerly the Rotary Club. He had served in the US Navy and was an avid Purdue and LaPorte Slicer Baseball fan. He had also served as past LaPorte Athletic Booster Club president.
Memorials may be made to Lamb's Chapel or the LaPorte Hospital Foundation.