William King Johnston |
| Posted 2016-08-29 by Pat R |
| Centre Daily Times (Pennsylvania) Wednesday, August 24, 2016 William King Johnston, 87, of Bellefonte, died on August 20, 2016, at Mount Nittany Medical Center. Born December 18, 1928, in Rutherford College, N.C., he was the son of Annie Belle (Goode) Johnston and Robert King Johnston. He grew up in Pearisburg, Va. On November 30, 1952, in Wickenburg, Ariz., he married Wilma Brown, who preceded him in death in 2013. His parents and brother, Robert Goode Johnston, also preceded him in death. He is survived by daughters, Cherie Brown, of San Diego, Calif. and Lisa Davy, of Bellefonte; grandsons, Jamie Brown (Tricia), of Kansas City, Mo., Tracy Brown (Kristi), of Chicago, Ill. and Eric Davy (Katie), of Bellefonte; four great-grandchildren, Kellen, Cameron, Carson, and Addie; and sister-in-law Louise Johnston, of Pearisburg, Va. He was a 1946 graduate of Pearisburg High School and a 1950 graduate of Virginia Tech, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering and also played football. Upon graduation in May 1950, he began work as a mechanical engineer at the National Gypsum Co. lime plant in Kimballton, Va. In September 1950, he entered the United States Air Force, serving as an Aircraft Electronic Navigation Equipment Repairman during the Korean War, until his honorable discharge in September 1954. For his service, he received the Good Conduct Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. In September 1954, he returned to work for the National Gypsum Co. and was transferred to Bellefonte where he worked as a mechanical engineer at the lime plant along Buffalo Run, which subsequently became Domtar, Inc and then Con-Lime, Inc., until his retirement in 1993. He then worked at Bellefonte BiLo Foods from 1994 until 2007, where he loved talking to the customers and helping them load their groceries. He was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte for 62 years, serving as Trustee, Elder, Deacon, Assistant Treasurer, Sunday School Superintendent, and Sunday School Teacher. He enjoyed volunteering his time, serving as committee chair for the Centre County Easter Seals and United Fund, wrapping Christmas gifts for Toys for Tots, selling ducks for the American Cancer Society's Annual Duck Derby at Talleyrand Park, working in the gift shop at Centre Crest, helping at the Bellefonte Faith Centre, and in numerous other ways through the Centre County R.S.V.P. He was a member of the Bellefonte Lions Club, Elks Club, and VFW. He was also a proud blood donor to the American Red Cross, giving over 20 gallons. He loved sports, especially Red Raider Football on Friday nights and rooting for his Virginia Tech Hokies. He enjoyed gardening, reading, playing solitaire, and drinking coffee with the guys at Boscaino's Variety Store. He was deeply devoted to his family and he was always good for a laugh. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 203 N. Spring St., Bellefonte, PA 16823. Friends will be received on Saturday, August 27, 2016, from 7-8 p.m., at Wetzler Funeral Service, Inc., 206 N. Spring St., Bellefonte. The memorial service will follow at 8:00 p.m., with Candace Dannaker officiating. Burial will be private and at the convenience of the family. See Also: Find A Grave |
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