Dale Franklin Johnson

Dr. Dale F. Johnson, a prominent retired pediatrician in Abilene, Texas, has left us to be with his angels. A kind and gentle man, he was much loved by his wife of 66 years, Lucille LaBue Johnson, his daughters Carol Ann Strickland, Ginger Sanda, and Tricia Rudd Miller, now deceased, along with son Frank Johnson, and their families. Dale and Lucille celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary the day before he died. Dr. Johnson was born May 1, 1916, in Loraine, Texas, to Frank and Bessie Johnson. They moved to Abilene in 1924 in order to give their three sons a good education. All three of their sons became respected medical doctors. Dr. Johnson graduated from Abilene High School in1933, and then attended and graduated from McMurry College in 1938. He graduated from Baylor University Medical School in 1942. While doing his internship in Shreveport, Louisiana, he met a beautiful nurse, Lucille LaBue, when she was giving him his vaccinations. They married in Shreveport three months later . He entered the U.S. Army as a 1st lieutenant in the Medical Corps where he served on the surgical staff of the 129th General Hospital in England. Upon the end of the war in Europe, he was transferred to Paris where he was Captain and Commanding Officer of a hospital train. He transported his injured soldiers to a hospital ship that took the wounded American soldiers back home to America. He also transported German prisoners of war from Paris, France to hospitals in Germany. Upon his return to civilian life, he settled in Loraine, Texas to join his brother, Dr. Bruce Johnson, in his medical practice for four and a half years. He then returned to Dallas to resume his medical training in Pediatrics. After completing his two-year Residency program, he returned to Abilene to open his Pediatrics practice. He had a very active practice, being one of only a few pediatricians in the Abilene area. One of his greatest joys later was to have former patients come up to him and give him a hug, to be invited to their graduations and weddings, and to be a doctor to their children. During this time he served as Chief of Staff of Hendrick Medical Center and of St. Ann's Hospital, along with serving as the Director of Medical Affairs of the West Texas Rehabilitation Center. He was a past member of the AMA, the Academy of Pediatrics, the TMS, and the Taylor-Jones County Medical Society. He was one of the organizers of the West Texas Rehab Center in Abilene. He closed his pediatrics office in 1976 and then served as Staff Pediatrician at the Abilene State School for five years. During the 1950's polio epidemic, patients would come from all over West Texas to be under his care. Prior to leaving Abilene, the Taylor-Jones County Medical Society awarded him a Certificate of Merit for his outstanding service to his community and to his profession. In 1981, he and Lucille retired to Horseshoe Bay to begin the next phase of their lives, one that they fondly remember as some of their best times. They made wonderful friends there, played golf, and again began serving their new community. He helped to organize the Horseshoe Bay EMS, serving as medical director for 7 years. He was also elected to the Board of the Lake LBJ Municipal Utility District, where he served for 7 years. He continued to practice medicine on a part-time basis until 1998, at the age of 82. In 1999, they moved back home to Abilene. Dr. Johnson was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Bessie Johnson, his two brothers, Dr. Homer Johnson and Dr. Bruce Johnson, and by his daughter, Tricia. He is survived by his devoted wife Lucille LaBue Johnson, his daughter Carol Ann Strickland and husband Steve and their sons Mark and Kevin and by their great granddaughter Taylor; by daughter Ginger Sanda and her daughter and son-in-law Meghan and Mark Schlotterbeck; by son Frank Johnson and wife Rebecca Kalafut Johnson and grandson Bobby; and by granddaughters Kristen Rudd Villavicencio and husband Steven, and Emily Rudd. Dr. Dale Johnson will be missed by many. His selfless love for his family, his patients and their families, along with his infinite patience, was evident in the love that has surrounded him all of his life. We were all blessed to have had this kind and gentle man as a part of our lives. Because he gave so much to this world, it is fitting that God let us have him for 92 years. His family is greatly appreciative of the kind caregivers at Generations Home Health, Wesley Court, Royal Estates, Windcrest, and Hendricks Hospice for their devoted care of our Dad. We also want to thank Dr. Dan Vaughn, and Dr. Sunil Patel for their compassion, their friendship and giving spirit. You all made a very difficult time better. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the West Texas Rehabilitation Center in Abilene, Windcrest Care, Holy Family Catholic Church, or Hendrick Hospice Care.