Alan Lee Johns

Alan Lee Johns passed away unexpectedly at home on January 24, 2026, due to heart-related complications. He was 79 years old.

Born and raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Alan was the third child of Earl and Evelyn Johns. He graduated from South Side High School and earned his A.B. from Indiana University in 1969 and his J.D. from Indiana University School of Law in 1973. He was admitted to the Indiana bar that same year. In 1978, he was admitted to the Ohio bar and moved to the Columbus area, where he lived for the rest of his life. Alan spent most of his legal career as an attorney for Nationwide Insurance in Columbus, where he was known for his integrity, meticulous attention to detail, and strong work ethic.

Alongside his legal career, Alan pursued his greatest passion, ballroom dancing, for over 40 years. A man of few words, he was a highly accomplished and prize-winning dancer, competing at the Silver level and earning Top Amateur Couple at the Ohio Star Ball in 1987 and Top Male Student at the Northcoast Dancesport Classic. He was a constant and beloved presence in the ballrooms of Columbus and beyond, arriving punctually most evenings of his adult life right up until his death.

Over the years, Alan trained and competed with many talented teachers and partners. The dance community was the center of his social world, and the friendships he formed there were among the most meaningful of his life. He took lessons and danced at Jimmy Rawlins Studio, Emerald City, Dance Plus, Kimberly Mitchell’s Studio, Dance Edge, Viva Dance, and The Crystal Ballroom, among others. In recent years, he remained active in the Columbus Swing Dance Club, Downtown Dance Club, Buckeye Bop Club, and Mid-Ohio Boogie Club.

Always impeccably groomed, Alan cut a tall, slim, and graceful figure on the dance floor, whether in coat and tails or shirtsleeves. He was best known for his American Smooth dances—Waltz, Tango, and Foxtrot—but could perform everything from a strong Quickstep to a joyful Cha-Cha. Fellow dancers describe him as classy, elegant, sophisticated, and always the perfect gentleman. He was a generous teacher who would dance with anyone, help partners refine their steps, laugh off mistakes, and make dancers of all levels feel welcome. Many credit him with teaching them how to dance.

That same thoughtfulness extended beyond the ballroom: Alan always showed up for family holidays and marked birthdays and milestones with cards and carefully chosen gifts. He will be sorely missed by his family and by members of Columbus’s ballroom and social dance communities.

Alan was preceded in death by his parents; his elder brother, David Earl Johns; and his elder sister, Mary Rinne Barnett. He is survived by his niece and nephew, Melissa and John David Rinne, and his grandniece, Marie Okada. He will be buried in Lindenwood Cemetery in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

A Celebration of Life and Tribute Dance will be held on February 28, 2026, from 6:00–10:00 PM at Crystal Ballroom Dance Center (402 E. Wilson Bridge Rd., Suite A, Worthington, Ohio). Friends, family, and members of the dance community are warmly invited to attend and honor Alan in the way he loved most—through music and dance. In lieu of flowers, Alan’s family and friends encourage you to support Columbus’s vibrant dance community by showing up and dancing as often as possible, as he would have wished.