Johnny Patrick Scruggs, 68, of Elizabethton, passed away at the Johnson City Medical Center on Saturday, January 12, 2019, after a brief illness. Johnny was born on April 28, 1950 in Erwin,Tenn., but had lived most of his life in Elizabethton, Tenn. He was the son of Charles Richard Scruggs and Mildred Nave Scruggs Wandell.
Johnny was a 1968 graduate of Elizabethton High School where he played baseball. A friend described him as “a short lefty with a nifty curve-ball, he played the game hard.” He was a U.S. Army veteran, having served in Vietnam. He was a graduate of East Tennessee State University with a B.S. degree in Journalism and was retired from the James H. Quillen Veterans Administration Medical Center. Johnny was a member of the ET&WNC Railroad Historical Society.
Johnny loved trains and baseball. Go Cubs! He will be remembered for his sense of humor and his ability to tell a good story, which always resulted in laughter.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by an infant brother, Barry Anthony Scruggs; his father-in-law, State Representative Ralph Cole; and brother-in-law, Charles B. Cole.
Johnny is survived by loving wife, Carol Cole Scruggs; mother-in-law, Dolores Oaks Cole; sister-in-law, Ann Cole; special cousin, Larry “Moe” Presnell; and numerous cousins.
Special friends also survive: Dr. Steve Giles, Ken Knight, Andrew Wetzel, Mike Melton, Steve Melton, Jimmy Taylor and Jim Hyder.
It was Johnny’s wish to donate his body to the ETSU Quillen College of Medicine for medical education. At Johnny’s request, there will be no services, however, friends may call at the home.
The family would like to express their appreciation to those in the medical community who assisted in the care of Johnny. These include: Dr. Jason French, Dr. Jeffrey Fenyves, Dr. Koyamangalath Krishnan, Dr. Paula Smith, Dr. Victoria Shankle and the nursing staff of the 6th floor at JCMC.
Charitable donations may be made to a charity of your choice.