Gerald "Pops" Johns, 82, of St. Marys, died 6:35 P.M. Wednesday, February 22, 2023, at Lima Memorial Hospital.

He was born January 24, 1941, in Lima, the son of Forest and Roberta (Ryan) Johns. He married Patricia Ashman on May 6, 1967, at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in St. Marys, and she survives in St. Marys.

He is also survived by his daughters: Melissa (Daniel) Elshoff of New Bremen; Julie (Scott) Abraham of Bellefontaine; by his four grandchildren: Ethan (Meghan) Elshoff; Emily Abraham; Braden Elshoff; Andrew Abraham. He is survived by a great-grandson, Henry Elshoff and by a sister, Marilynn (Larry) Hall of St. Marys.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Gerald was a 1959 graduate of St. Marys Memorial High School and a veteran of the US Air Force, where he served from 1961-64. He retired after 43 years of service at Crown Equipment Company in New Bremen. Gerald was very mechanically minded and could repair anything. He volunteered his time for many years restoring the "Champaign Lady" a World War II B-17 bomber at Grimes Field in Urbana, Ohio. He traveled to Alaska to salvage parts off a wrecked B-17, and got the opportunity to fly in one. He was always ready to help someone in need and enjoyed making winning pinewood derby cars for his grandsons. He was also a talented woodworker and furniture maker.He was a member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church. He loved his cat, Kirby, very much!

Funeral rites will be held 11:00 A.M. Monday, March 6, 2023, at the Miller-Long and Folk Funeral Home, 314 West High Street, St. Marys, Deacon Marty Brown, officiant. Burial rites will be held at Gethsemane Cemetery.

Friends may call from 9:00-11:00 A.M. Monday at the funeral home, where memorial gifts may be given to either SART or the Champaign Lady B-17 Project at Grimes Field, Urbana.

Condolences may be sent to Gerald's family via Millerfuneralhomes.net.