Valerie Johnston

Valerie Ann Johnston 89 passed away peacefully on September 17th in Wilmington, NC. Valerie was born in Detroit, Michigan to Ralph and Lucille on March 28th, 1936. Valerie lived a full life, starting out as a wife and mother and then later as a successful real estate agent. Valerie loved to travel, first around the country in a Winnebago full of kids and then later, with her husband Charles Johnston, scuba diving and sight-seeing all over the world. Wherever Valerie lived, be it Pennsylvania, Missouri, Wisconsin or North Carolina, she always made it feel like home. Throughout her life, Valerie always pursued creative outlets, including ceramics, knitting, needlepoint and rug hooking. In her retirement, Valerie became a member of the Cape Fear Rug Hookers where she created some of her most beautiful pieces of art, including “Temptation” which was featured in the Wenham Museum “Summer Colors: Hooked Rug Artistry” show. For anyone who was lucky enough to know Valerie, she will be truly missed.

Valerie was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Johnston, her sister, Lynne Sanford and her daughter Lisa Reitz. She leaves behind her two children, Stacey McCoy and Kirk Bruno and step daughters Lisa Marlow and Anna Marie Johnston.

A visitation for Valerie will be held Thursday, September 25, 2025 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Coble Funeral & Cremation Service at Greenlawn Memorial Park, 1155 Shipyard Blvd, Wilmington, North Carolina 28412. A graveside service will occur Friday, September 26, 2025 at 11:00 AM at Oleander Memorial Gardens, 306 Bradley Drive, Wilmington, North Carolina 28409.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: Tunnels To Towers Foundation (https://wwwt2t.org/)

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.coblegreenlawn.com