William Harrison Johnston Jr.

WILLIAM “Bill” HARRISON JOHNSTON, JR. in his 94th year, at Brookdale Senior Living, Yorba Linda California on November 4th 2020. Bill was the third child of William Sr.(B:1890 D:1954) and Ethel (D:1976). He follows his sister’s Dorothy Averill and Ruth Watkins. Beloved father of “Jim” (Marie), and “Kathy”. Proud grandfather of Nicholas (Megan), and proud great-grandfather of Quinn(B:2020). Proud uncle to his sister’s children: Shirley, Susan, Barbie, Alaen, and William. Proud uncle to his sister-in-law’s children: David, Katherine, and Janet.

Bill “was born on {March 21st, 1926} Palm Sunday in Hallstead, Pennsylvania in the manse of the First Presbyterian Church.  {His} dad was minister at the time and announced {his} birth from the pulpit that day. {Bill} always claimed that he made {him} attend services from DAY 1.”

Bill signed up for military service as soon as he could. He joined the Battle of the Bulge, was capture as a prisoner of war, and celebrated his 19th birthday in Germany. After his military service, he obtained his Engineering degree from Lafayette College (1950) -his Dad’s alma mater(1915). He moved to Cleveland, Ohio for his first job at Bailey Meter company. 5 years later, he moved to California where he met a young Canadian named Doris Ferguson. They married in 1958 in Los Angeles, and settled in Fullerton, California where they had their two children.

Bill and Doris were adventurous and took the family to live in St. Croix USVI in 1967. They lived the island life from 1967 to 1972. During those years they took trips to Europe, visits to relatives in Ontario Canada, and Pennsylvania. They returned to Fullerton where Bill worked at Bechtel Corporation(‘72-’94). During his last years of work, Bill’s assignments took him to Augusta Georgia, and Scottsdale Arizona adding new memories.

In 1998 Bill lost the first love of his life “Doris” to cancer. He met a second love in “Betty” in 2001. Betty and Bill went on over a decade of additional adventures, river cruises, many walks, and singing trips around town.

For the last two years he lived in Senior Living memory care, still lovingly aware of his immediate family.

Bill will be interned next to his wife (Doris Ferguson B:1932 D:1998), his daughter (Katherine Susan B:1959 D:2010), and their “Baby Girl Johnston” B/D:1960, in Loma Vista Memorial Park on November 14th 2020.