Frederick N. Johns

Frederick N. Johns, a former resident of Cambridge, Ohio, Owosso, Michigan, Tallahassee, Florida, and Birmingham, Alabama, died on December 31, 2025. He was born on December 14, 1938, in Cambridge, OH, to Edith Ryan Johns and Theodore Norman Johns. The family moved to Owosso, MI, in 1948.

Fred joined the U.S. Navy in 1956 and was stationed aboard the U.S.S. Macon out of Boston, MA. He made numerous trips to European waters and the Caribbean and even escorted Queen Elizabeth from the Atlantic to Chicago during the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway in 1959.

After separating from the Navy, Fred accepted a football scholarship to Northwestern University, ultimately graduating from Florida State University in 1964 with a degree in criminology, following internships with the Florida Sheriffs' Bureau and the Florida Law Enforcement Academy. Due to his number-one national ranking in nationwide testing, Fred was recruited by the Oakland California Police Force, where he became the valedictorian of his recruit class. As an officer, he was assigned to uniform street patrol, the bomb disposal squad, crime scene investigation, and the training of other officers.

In June of 1965, Fred married Susan Ordway Carter. They lived in San Lorenzo, CA, where they welcomed their first child, Tracy. After being offered a position as special agent with the newly developing Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Fred and his family moved to Tallahassee, where their second daughter, Amy, was born.

Fred enjoyed a thirty-two year career serving the people of the state of Florida as a Florida Department of Law Enforcement special agent, bureau chief, deputy director, director, deputy commissioner, assistant commissioner, and commissioner, finally retiring in 1999. During his service, Fred was assigned to the development of state (FCIC) and national (NCIC) intelligence and investigative systems, including automated identification and finger print systems, uniform crime reports, missing children programs, state wide crime laboratories, and state wide crime scene units. He also graduated from the F.B.I. National Academy in Quantico, Virginia. He was Florida's National Project SEARCH Representative and Florida's JCIC Policy Board representative.

In 2017, Fred and his wife left Tallahassee after fifty well-loved years and moved to Birmingham, AL, where he resided until his death. Since retiring, his grandchildren, Sergei Alexander Kampakis, his wife Mary, and son, Harry of Denver, CO; Carter Andrew Kampakis of Newburyport, MA; and Ryan Phillip Kampakis of Birmingham, AL, provided endless entertainment and reasons for pride.

Fred was preceded in death by his wife, Susan, of 61 years, whom he adored so deeply that just a few days after her passing, he joined her with Jesus. He was also predeceased by his daughter, Tracy Elizabeth, in 2003, his brother Martin Leonard Johns, his sister Carol Louise Fuss, his brother Michael Edward Johns, as well as both parents. He is survived by his daughter Amy Kampakis and husband Harry A. Kampakis of Birmingham, AL; his three grandsons; his sister Lisa Johns Taylor and husband Scott of Sarasota, FL; his sister Maureen Johns Kelly and husband Winton of Jupiter, FL; and his brother Theodore William Johns and wife Wendy of New Port Richey, FL.

A private funeral service with family is planned. Fred would like for everyone to “always remember who you are and what you represent." His family will greatly miss his humor, guidance, and constant support. He was the greatest friend, father, and Boompa anyone could have hoped for, and he will be greatly missed.