Robert Johnston

Bob was born in Vancouver in 1935, the eldest of five children. He grew up quickly during the war, with his father serving in Europe for several years. In his youth, he delivered newspapers for the Vancouver Sun. Bob joined BC Tel in the mailroom in 1951, and later became a PBX installer. At the same time, he attended night school and taught as a part time instructor at BCIT in the late 1950's and early 60's. He assumed his first job in management as Telephone Plant Supervisor in Dawson Creek in 1966 and became District Manager before returning to Vancouver in 1972. Bob held various posts of increasing responsibility in Vancouver and Victoria, retiring as a Vice-President of BC Tel in 1992. He loved every job he had and all the people he met in the company.

In his retirement, he volunteered his time for many charitable events as part of the Telephone Pioneers, and was the District Electoral Officer (Coquitlam) for the federal election several times.

Bob married his wife Pat in 1957 and they remained together until her passing in 2015. He enjoyed many memorable trips with the family over the years to California, Las Vegas and the Okanagan. He is pre-deceased by his parents James and Christina, sisters Ella, Janet, and brother Jim. He is survived by and will be profoundly missed by his children Arlene, Randy (Barbara) and Blake, his grandchildren Melissa (Andrew) and Aaron (Vanessa), Nicholas and Emily, Carly, his sister Betty (Bill) and numerous nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at Ocean View Funeral Home, 4000 Imperial Street, Burnaby on Monday, December 20th, 2021 at 12:30 PM.