Philip Crater Johnston, 78, beloved father, son and brother passed away peacefully the morning of Friday, February 4, 2022 at the Convalarium of Dublin. He was born August 24, 1943 in Wheeling, West Virginia to the late Robert F. Johnston and Mary (Crater) Johnston of Bellaire, Ohio. Philip is survived by his three children Maura Johnston of Westerville, Neil (Kelly) Johnston of Dublin and Kirk (Melanie) Johnston of Oro Valley, Arizona; and their mother Betty Johnston, his sisters Betty C. Scott of Avon Park, Florida and Peggy Johnston de Albertos of Segovia, Spain; as well as his cherished grandchildren Logan, Kilian, Kriston, Mia, Alice, Jack, Luke and a baby boy Johnston soon to arrive. A proud product of the Ohio River Valley area; Philip was valedictorian of the Bellaire High School class of 1961. He matriculated to Colgate University in Hamilton, NY graduating in 1965 with honors. Philip went on to earn a LL. B degree from Harvard Law School in 1968. Philip served our great country in the Army National Guard part time for 7 years starting in 1968. Moving to Columbus, Ohio in June of 1968; he started with the Vorys, Sater, Seymour & Pease Law Firm where he was made a partner in 1974. He specialized in corporate mergers and separations and retired in 2000. Philip had a rare passion for the written word; reading multiple books per week most of his life. He turned his fervor for books into service as a 10-year member and a president of the Columbus Metropolitan Library Board. Philip, Phil, or “The Fog” to his close pals, loved his family, friends and attending sporting events with them both. A life-long Ohio State Buckeye fan, Phil was a supporter of all things Columbus. He is an original season ticket holder for the Columbus Crew, Columbus Blue Jackets, The Memorial Tournament, and seat license holder at the Schottenstein Center. He took his family to World Cup Soccer matches in 1994 & 1998. He was a founding member of the annual philanthropic Old F.A.R.T.S. Golf Match with several of his friends. The last 15 years he was also an avid Green Bay Packer backer. He was a member of the Covenant Presbyterian Church in Upper Arlington. Celebration of Philip’s life will be at 3pm on Saturday, February 19 at SCHOEDINGER DUBLIN, 5980 Perimeter Drive, Dublin OH 43017. In lieu of flowers; please consider making a donation to the Columbus Metropolitan Library Foundation at www.columbuslibrary.org/foundation/donate or simply read a book with real pages made of paper to a child and/or yourself today.
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