Harold V. "Doc" Johnson

H. Victor Johnson, M.D., 79, of Evansville, passed away July 27, 2008 at Pine Haven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Dr. Johnson was born January 20, 1929 in Evansville, the son of the late Edward and Lula Johnson. He married Rita Stoeckinger on August 15, 1953 in Indianapolis. A 1954 graduate of the Indiana University Medical School, Dr. Johnson practiced family medicine on the west side of Evansville for 25 years. During that time he actively worked as the Team Sports Physician for both Reitz and Mater Dei High Schools. He joined the Veteran’s Administration Outpatient Clinic Medical Staff in 1982 where he worked until his retirement in 1997. Because of his work with Kentucky veterans he was named a Kentucky Colonel in 1987. Active in the community, Dr. Johnson was a member of the West Side Nut Club since 1957, serving in many leadership roles including president in 1966 and the 1972 Fall Festival General Chairman. An avid photographer, he began the Nut Club Photo Committee that took sports photos of most Evansville youth sports teams as well as the west side high schools’ sports teams during the 1970’s and 1980’s. He was an active member of the West Evansville Civitan Club, also serving as its president and long time newsletter editor. He received the Honor Key Award from Civitan International. He was a lifetime member of Simpson’s United Methodist Church. A true football fan, most fall weekends found Dr. Johnson at the Reitz Bowl watching either Reitz or Mater Dei play football. He was a member of Reitz High School football teams and was named a Distinguished Member of the Indiana High School Football Hall of Fame in 1979. He was instrumental in the creation of the Evansville Junior Football League. The Junior Football League Field in Howell Park is named after him. He was also an Ohio River historian and long time member of the Sons and Daughters of Pioneer Rivermen. His interest in Ohio River boats resulted in number wooden models of river boats that can be viewed at the Evansville Visitors’ Center in the Pagoda. He was a member of the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the Indiana State Medical Society, the Vanderburgh County Medical Society and past member of its board of directors. Dr. Johnson was staff president of the Deaconess Hospital Staff in 1969. He was also a member of the Veterans Administration Physician Association. Dr. Johnson is survived by his wife, Rita Stoeckinger Johnson, as well as four children, Jane Tuttle and her husband, Herb of Lawrence, Kansas, Robert Johnson and wife Claudia of Indianapolis, Richard Johnson and wife Gilda of Kansas City, MO and Sharon Ruder and husband Thomas of Evansville. He is also survived by six grandsons, Victor and Peter Tuttle, Aaron Marshall, Andrew Johnson and Bryan and Alex Ruder and a sister-in-law Marthagene Johnson. He was preceded in death by a brother, Edwin W. Johnson. Friends may visit with the family from 2:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at Pierre Funeral Home, 2601 W. Franklin Street. Funeral services will be held Thursday, July 31, 2008 at Pierre Funeral Home at 10:00 A.M. with Rev. Joe Mitchell officiating. Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the West Side Nut Club Foundation, P.O. Box 6032, Evansville, IN 47719-0032. Family and friends unable to attend may leave condolences online at www.pierrefuneralhome.com.

Harold V. "Doc" Johnson

January 20, 1929 - July 27, 2008