Hooper "Doc" Johnson passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 26 at the age of 96.

Born in Wilmington, NC, he was the son of West Hooper Johnson and Reba DuBois. Doc served in the US Navy during World War II as an aviation metalsmith on Guam. Upon returning home, he attended MIT which was interrupted by a year-long battle with Scarlet Fever.

He later attended Wake Forest University where he was a member of the Lambda Chi fraternity, and then went on to graduate from the Bowman Gray School of Medicine. He practiced as an Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist and also as an Emergency Physician. He retired to Myrtle Beach for his love of the ocean and golf.

At a young age, Doc learned to play the trumpet and taught himself how to play almost every other brass instrument. His favorite music was anything jazz from the 40s and 50s. After the War ended, he played in and directed several jazz bands.

Doc also loved racing. He started racing motor boats at the age of 13. He raced cars, he raced go carts, and even radio controlled cars, winning several titles along the way. Most notably, he was one of the founding members of Virginia International Raceway in the early 1950s which remains one of the top road racing courses in the nation today.

His favorite activity of all was playing golf. He started playing as a young man, betting on golf to help pay his way through college, and continued to play every Tuesday with friends until he passed.

Doc was preceded by his parents and sister Cynthia. He is survived by his nieces Heather, Shirley, and Rebecca and their families, along with his beloved children Hooper Jr. and Pamela Posey, her husband Ed, and three grandchildren who affectionately know him as Pop-Pop.

The family would also like to thank the staff of Myrtle Beach Manor for their exceptional kindness and care.