Barbara Leona Johnston

Barbara Leona (Hunt) Johnston, was taken to our home in Heaven on November 15, 2022. After waiting many years to see her Father John Benjamin Hunt who passed away when she was barely 8 years old is enjoying a wonderful reunion with him and her Mother Mathilda (Murphy) Hunt. She is also with her Brother Elwood Hunt and his wife Rosemary. She is also reunited with her brother Ronald Hunt. Last year she lost her oldest grandson Lonnie Alan Durham, who loved her dearly, and no doubt welcomed her with his larger-than-life hug! This reunion also included Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, and many cousins. We know that she is very happy there.

Barbara, grew up on a ranch that was owned by a life-long Phoenician named Kemper Marley. Her father used to grow cotton for him and according to all I have heard, it was the best cotton ever!! Tragically her father died when she and her brothers were ages, Elwood 14, Barbara barely 8, and Ron was barely one. This forced her mother to take her family back to where she grew up in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Barbara loved it there and grew very close to her cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. She lived there until she was around 14. This began many years of transitions between Arizona, California, and back to Arizona, which is where she met a young airman who was stationed at Luke Air Force base. He was shy and Barbara was not. They were a perfect match!

Kenneth Kaye Johnston and Barbara were married in Glendale, Arizona two weeks before Ken shipped off to Korea. She went to live with her new in-laws in Utah for a short time before returning to Arizona. The transitions from place to place went on another 40 times after Kenneth returned from Korea. They began married life together in Chandler, Arizona where their first child was born at Williams Air Force Base. It was here that Barbara and Ken had Donald Scott, and Debra Kay. Steven Howard was born just after Ken left for an overseas tour beginning in France and finishing in Germany. Barbara did not want to have a baby overseas so she stayed behind until Steve was born. Her first overseas trip she had in tow a 3 year old, a 2 year old, and a brand-new baby boy. She remembered going through LaGuardia airport in New York telling her two toddlers to hold on to her coat and not to let go, and off she went. She was fearless!!!

Her love for life and people shined as she did not ever know a stranger, because she knew they would not be one for long. Barbie and Ken entertained many a serviceman stationed there without their family. They loved our family and loved her southern cooking. Leaving there having served many people in any way they could were off again to Luke AFB in Arizona. It was at Luke AFB that Kenneth Wayne Johnston was born. They stayed in Arizona until little Ken was about 3 years old. Big Ken was sent overseas again with Barbara to get everything ready and travel with her 4 young children.

The Johnston family was on the move again. This time to Germany. Base housing was full and the waiting list was long so housing was found off base. Just as before the family von Johnston was on the move from city to city until base housing came available in Kaiserslautern. This time they were there for almost 4 years. Barbara continued to bring joy to so many amazing people. Always dazzling them with her home cooking!! Whenever anyone needed her, she was there. We grew very close as a family during this tour because in many of the places we lived we could not communicate very well, but we always had each other.

Short story, we took a family vacation in Europe. We were supposed to go in the family station wagon but ended up in our new Volkswagen. Since we were camping and eating all our meals in the great outdoors, Barbara had to use her amazing skills in organizing to get everything for a family of 6 into a tiny Volkswagen beetle, and still have room for everyone to sit. Some how she managed to do it putting her young son Kenny on the canned goods in the back cubby hole, and her three other children sitting in the back seat. We laughed from the beginning of the trip to the end. One thing about Barbara, she always made us laugh, and had yummy snacks to eat. I often thought her middle name should have been fun.

Upon returning home, with the Vietnam War still going we moved across the street from Nelson’s Swimming Pool, which was run by her brother Elwood. We lived in Grandma Nelson’s home, as Ken was being sent to Thailand for a year. So, Barbara now with her children as old as 12 and as young as 5 were back in Phoenix and without her companion she was on her own. Thank goodness for Elwood and Rosemary. They were there to help if she needed them, but she was strong and independent enough that she handled everything very well.

Transitions continued until Ken retired and they moved back to Phoenix. Finally, the family was settled in their own home. This is when Barbara ventured out into working for Stretch & Sew. However, as it turned out the job was more about feeding her habit for sewing. She taught a lot of women how to make their own clothing. Besides being great cook, she also was an amazing seamstress.

Each of her children were married during the years spent in this home. Debra was married to Mark Durham, Steve was married to Becky, Kenny was married to Lori, and Scott was married to Mannie. Between all of them they have gave Barb and Ken 14 grandchildren. The force continues to grow as she is up to 26 great grandchildren with 2 more currently on the way.

Barbara continued to move with Ken for several more years but has been in Arizona since 1997 when Ken retired from his second job. No matter where she went, she brought joy to all she met. Even the Walmart greeters knew who she was.

Last but certainly not least, Barbara has always been a very spiritual woman. She was baptized a member of “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when she was around the age of 19. She and Kenneth were sealed in the Mesa, Arizona Temple after his return from Korea. She served in the church in many ways and always showed great love and kindness to all who knew her. There was never a need that went unnoticed by her. Her spiritual strength got her through many challenges in her life, and we know that she knew her Savior Jesus Christ and shared that testimony with her family. She spent many years serving in the temple and her love for people has been never ending. She will be missed, but as a family we are grateful for every day she has made us laugh, taught us how to serve, shown us what love truly means. Her family was and always will be her greatest accomplishment, and she would be the first to tell you that!!! We love you Forever!!!

Funeral Services will be held on 10:00am on Monday, November 28, 2022 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 4901 W Union Hills Drive Glendale, Arizona 85308. Interment will follow at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona in Phoenix, Arizona. Arrangements under the direction of A.L. Moore-Grimshaw Mortuary 710 W Bethany Home Road Phoenix, Arizona 85009.