Larry P. Johns, 73, of Nappanee, Ind., died Wednesday at LaPorte Hospital, after a sudden illness.
Johns, founded Travel Lite in 1998 as a truck camper manufacturer before adding lightweight travel trailers in 2011. He is the father of Travel Lite President Dustin Johns.
He was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., and later moved to Nappanee and had worked at Liberty Homes in Syracuse, Fairmont Homes, Holly Park in Shipshewana and Tiara Motor Coach, before buying Travel Lite in New Paris.
Johns is survived by his wife, Linda; children Larry Paul (Anne) Johns Jr. of Cincinnati, Ohio, Teresa (Mark) Eads of Plymouth, Dustin (Lindsey) Johns of Goshen, Keith (Tara) Troyer of Nappanee and Tami Vance; 11 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; brothers Casey (Judy) Johns of Cowansville, and Danny (Joann) Johns, Fenelton, Pa.