Ray Mitchell Johns

Ray Mitchell Johns, 80, of Cortland Drive, Hagerstown, Md, died peacefully on Friday, February 16, 2018 at Greenfield Assisted Living of Hagerstown, surrounded by love. Born January 15, 1938 in Hagerstown, he was the son of the late Laurence and Freeda (Brandenburg) Johns. Ray was a graduate of Hagerstown High School, class of ’55 and received his B.S., M.S., and PhD from the University of Maryland (agriculture/economics). Growing up, he worked on two family farms simultaneously. After graduation, he was primarily a college professor (University of Maryland, Ashland University (Ohio), Hagerstown Community College and Wilson College), but in intervening years he also was employed with the Maryland Department of Agriculture, County Administrator in Calvert County, and owned and operated Antietam Tractor & Equipment Inc. on Leitersburg Pike for ten years. He was a two-time Fulbright Recipient and lived, worked and taught in Czechoslovakia, Moldova, Slovak Republic, and Ukraine over a 19-year period. Associations and clubs Ray was involved in over the years include Civil War Roundtable, Maryland Department of Agriculture, life-time member of Leitersburg Volunteer Fire Co., Leitersburg Ruritan, Fulbright Association, MG Club (Chesapeake Chapter), Model-T Club (Blue and Gray Chapter) and Ashland College Board of Trustees. Ray was a member of St. James Brethren Church, but, was equally at home worshipping with Christians of other denominations which, over the years, included Covenant Presbyterian Church, Hebron Mennonite Church and St. Paul’s Free Lutheran Church. Ray is survived by his wife, Susan E. Johns (nee Diggins) whom he married in 2001, son Andrew Johns, grandson Raymond Johns and step-son Abe Shellito. He is also survived by one brother, Lawrence Johns. Services and burial will be private and at the convenience of the family. The family thanks, with very grateful heart, the many caregivers of Hospice of Hagerstown and Greenfield Assisted Living for their tremendously loving care of Ray. Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Washington County, 747 Northern Ave., Hagerstown, MD, or to the AFTD (Assoc. for Frontotemporal Disease), Radnor Station Bldg 2, Suite 320, Radnor, PA 19087. Arrangements were made by J. L. Davis Funeral Home, Smithsburg, MD, and online condolences may be offered at www.jldavisfh.com