Thomas A. Johnson, 80, of The Villages, FL, passed away Saturday, June 24, 2017 at Cornerstone Hospice. Tom was born in Milwaukee and was the son of the late Carl and Valeska Johnson.
Tom received a B.S. from Lawrence University, Appleton WI. He graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry in 1962. Tom had a long career as an Organic Chemist with DuPont in Wilmington DE, Air Products and Chemicals in Allentown PA, retiring in 1999. He had the title of Research Associate when he left DuPont. He retired from Air Products as a Principal Research Associate with 30 US patents. He was Chair of the Organic Reactions Chemical Society and received the “Paul N. Rynlander Award from the Society. Until 2015 he was a Consultant with Nova Molecular of Janesville WI and Houston, TX.
He loved chemistry. He enjoyed building furniture and model airplanes. He and his wife of nearly 58 years liked to travel and had visited all the continents except Antarctica.
Tom and Carolyn moved to the Villages in 2004. He loved the Villages and to play golf, shuffleboard and cards with friends. He liked to dance and the movies and he really enjoyed playing the piano. He had just begun to tutor Algebra in Wildwood this year. He was a member of the American Chemical Society, the League of Women Voters, and until recently the Wood Shop and the E-flyers.
His daughter, Theresa, predeceased him. Tom leaves his wife Carolyn and his son Richard Carl Johnson of Allentown, PA, brother, Ronald of Atlanta, two nieces, Erica of Philadelphia and Laura of Atlanta.
There will be a gathering on Friday June 30, 2017 at 1:30 p.m with a memorial service 2 p.m. at Beyers Funeral Home Chapel, Lady Lake, FL.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Cornerstone Hospice, 601 Casa Bella, The Villages, FL 32162, or Tutors for Kids, Inc., 12085 SE 175th Loop, Summerfield, FL 34491
