After an unexpected medical event, Johnny Dale Luce, 73, passed away surrounded by the love of family and friends on the evening of Wednesday, October 2, 2024 at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Missouri. He was born on April 22, 1951 at the U.S. Naval Hospital in San Diego, California, the oldest of what would be five siblings. Johnny joined the ROTC program at Southwest Missouri State University, where he achieved the rank of lieutenant in the United States Army. Later, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Technical Writing from Missouri State University (formerly Southwest Missouri State University). Spending most of his career in advertising, he served as Vice President of Marketing for the Alken Murray company in New York City and volunteered with PBS. Johnny was not only a world traveler, but a lover of science fiction, art, gardening, and writing. He was lovingly known as a man of kindness, generosity, humor, and creativity. 

Predeceased by his parents Marcella and John, brothers James (Valerie) and Boyd, Johnny is survived by sisters Joy Hill and Marilyn Luce Robertson (Malcolm); niece Courtney Wilson (Jeremy, Cole, Ava, and Wyatt); nephews James Luce (LeAnn, Charlotte, and Shep), Nick Luce (Abigail), and Cub Robertson; many loving aunts and cousins; and myriad friends from coast to coast. 

In lieu of flowers, it was Johnny’s wish that donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in his honor. https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html?sc_icid=header-btn-donate-now

Arrangements made under the direction of Greenlawn Funeral Home East.