Kenneth Ardell Johnson, 62, Florence, SC, died November 11, 2004 from pancreatic cancer. Services were held November 15 at All Saints Episcopal Church in Florence.
Honorary pallbearers were his brothers-in-law Edward Willing, Jr., Kevin Johnson, Charles Martin and DeWayne Deal, all of South Carolina, and nephews Eric, David and Robert Johnson of Iowa.
Ken was born November 6, 1942 in Belmond, the son of Alice and Ardell Johnson. He graduated from Belmond High School, St. Olaf College, University of Iowa Medical School, St. Paul Ramsey Hospitals and Clinics, Duke University, and the Medical College of Georgia. He was certified in plastic and reconstructive surgery and otolaryngology.
He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War and attained the rank of major. He was discharged in 1973. He was a plastic surgeon in Florence the past 16 years and in Augusta, GA before that. He shared his talent with his patients to help them feel better about themselves. Many of those patients required reconstructive surgery after cancer or devastating and disfiguring accidents.
Ken was born into the Lutheran faith but joined the Episcopal Church in 1986. He was a member of the American Medical Association, South Carolina Medical Association, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, South Carolina Plastic Surgery Society, Florence County Medical Society and the Lipoplasty Society of North America. He served on the staff of McLeod Regional Medical Center, Carolinas Hospital System and Wilson Hospital.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Survivors include his wife of 20 years, Sarah Willing Johnson; children Christopher Johnson of Charlotte, NC, T. Patrick Schroder of Charles-ton, SC and Allison Johnson at home; brother Charles Johnson of Des Moines; 14 nephews; 4 nieces; one great-nephew; and one great-niece.