Russell Read Johnson

Russell Read “Russ” Johnson, 85, of St. Petersburg, passed away on September 20, 2026, with his wife, Connie, at his side. He was born on August 26, 1941, in Columbus, Georgia. Russ was a beloved son, husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. Above all, he was a devoted husband to Connie, a loving father and grandfather, and someone who treasured his family deeply.

Russ will be greatly missed by his wife, Constance “Connie” Johnson; his St. Petersburg daughter, Mary Harris (Charley), and their children, Owen, Reid, Emily, and Lucy; his Ohio daughter, Ruth McMullen (Jim), and their children, Kelly McMullen (David) and Chelsea Althouse-McMullen (Becky); his sister-in-law, Elizabeth Miller; and his many nieces, nephews, and friends.

As part of an Army family, Russ lived in Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, Japan, Virginia, and Florida. He graduated from Annandale High School in Annandale, Virginia, where he met Connie. They attended their high school prom together and later married on July 11, 1964, in Springfield, Virginia. Their marriage of more than 62 years was the foundation of their family and a constant source of love and companionship.

Russ received a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Management from Georgia Tech, where he was a member of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity. Russ and Connie moved from Stone Mountain, Georgia, to Lakeland, Florida, in 1975, where they raised their two daughters and built a life filled with family and their church community.

Russ’s professional career centered around computer science and data analysis. Always drawn to math and technology, he worked for an engineering firm, trucking companies, Polk Community College, St. Philip Towing and Transportation, and the City of Lakeland. Russ turned his baseball card collection into a fairly large hobby, attending numerous card shows and even opening a memorabilia store in Lakeland. After retiring, he continued to enjoy working with young people as a substitute teacher at Lakewood High School.

Russ witnessed an extraordinary transformation in technology during his lifetime. When he began his career, computers were enormous, taking up entire rooms, churning away loudly, and requiring extremely cold temperatures. He remained fascinated by how far technology had come and was continually amazed by the power and capability packed into a tiny iPhone.

Russ found joy in the simple things: his family, his church, sports, bowling, collecting, reading, and gardening. Always a fan of the water, Russ loved fishing and boating his whole life. Furthermore, the spent countless hours working puzzles and keeping the Little Bayou Puzzle Library organized. Russ was a faithful fan of Georgia Tech football and basketball, the Tampa Bay Rays, and the Buccaneers. He had a curious mind and always enjoyed having something to figure out, learn about, or talk about. After moving to Westminster Shores, Russ became known as the “Popcorn Man” and he enjoyed playing bridge and making new friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Colonel J. Palmer Johnson and Virginia Johnson, and his brothers, Palmer, Harry, and Roy.

Russ leaves behind a lifetime of memories and a family who will carry his stories, humor, curiosity, and love with them. He will be remembered not only for the life he lived, but also for the many little ways he made life more enjoyable for the people around him.

Dear Russ—go catch that Big Fish!