Johnny Earl Fogle

Johnny Earl Fogle, 78, of Charleston, S.C. passed away on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, surrounded by his family.

Johnny was born in Orangeburg, S.C. on April 3, 1945, to the late John W. Fogle and the late Nell Ott Fogle.  He grew up in Cope, S.C. and graduated from Junior College in Florida where he played baseball.  He continued his education at the University of South Carolina; graduating in 1967 with a bachelor’s degree in business and finance.  Johnny served his country in the United States Army National Guard serving state side during the Vietnam War.    He married the love of his life, Joyce Ray, on July 19, 1975.  He retired from R.J. Reynolds Tobacco after over 30 years as a senior sales representative.

Throughout his life his hobbies and projects varied from playing softball in Charleston to training Chesapeake Bay retrievers.  He was devoted to training retrievers.  Johnny raised and trained many Chessies.  He was very active in the Palmetto Retriever Club for many years, becoming a board member.  He organized and judged field trials.  One of his beloved Chessies, “Mandy” earned the national working dog status.  Johnny was an avid bird hunter, taking trips to Mexico and South America to hunt.

With his many interests he was always a farmer at heart.  He enjoyed growing crops but gave most of it away.  He was a true Christian and practiced devotion and generosity in all aspects of his life.  He was a faithful member of Ashley River Baptist Church in Charleston.  He loved his extended family in Cope, S.C. and would visit every weekend for many years.  Hundreds of friends and family will miss Johnny’s excellent home cooking.

The prefect description of Johnny had to include being a dedicated Carolina Gamecock.  He was an athletic scholarship donor.  He so wanted the Gamecock football team to be the National Champions once before he left this Earth to be with God.

Johnny leaves behind his devoted wife of forty-eight years, Joyce of the home; his daughter, Lauren Fogle Dickerson (Jared) of Charleston; a special aunt, Mary Mack (Truett) of Cope, S.C.; a niece, Melissa Arnold of Cope, S.C.; a cousin that was closer than a brother, Ricky Bolen as well as many additional cousins from Cope and Orangeburg, S.C.  He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Deryl Ard.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Sunday, July 16, 2023, at Thompson Funeral Home Chapel, 1012 Whitman Street, Orangeburg.  Pastor Ron Shearer will be officiating.  Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery, 2720 Broughton Street, Orangeburg.

The family will receive friends from 1:00-2:00 P.M. on Sunday, July 16, 2023, at Thompson Funeral Home Chapel prior to the funeral service.

Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at http://act.alz.org/goto/Johnny_Earl_Fogle; St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105 or to the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital at 950 W Faris Rd, Greenville, S.C. 29605.