Jerald Dudley Johnston

JERALD D. JOHNSTON Hi Folks, my name is Jerald D. (Jerry) Johnston and I passed away El Paso, Texas. I had a fantastic life and who better than I could tell you something about it. I was born January 22, 1924 in Goree, Texas to Clyde D. & Marie Johnston. I was preceded in death by my parents, Rosalee A. Johnston, my loving wife of 60 years and brother, Harold. I am survived by son Stephen Alan Johnston and grandchildren, Joseph, Ulises and Christopher Johnston and my sister Betty Smith, half-brother & sister, Robert L. Johnston and Cheri Lynn Hutchins, and friend & caretaker Delma Sierra. I graduated from high school in Vernon, Texas in 1941, attended N.T.A.C (now UT Arlington) and Texas A&M College. I joined the U.S. Navy as a Naval Aviation Cadet in 1943 and received my Wings & graduated as a Naval Aviator in August 1944. I served in the Navy until November 1945 & was discharged honorably as a Lt. (JG). Following my Naval service, I entered the insurance business in 1947 with General adjustment Bureau as a Claims Adjuster in Dallas, Texas and subsequently in Jonesboro, Arkansas where I married the love of my life, Rosalee Anderson. I worked there and also adjusted catastrophe claims in Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island & Florida. In 1949, I was transferred to El Paso and continued to adjust claims until 1955, when I entered the insurance agency business as a partner with Eckford & VandenHeuvel, a 50 year old agency. In 1961, I resigned from that agency and became a partner with Harry Elliot, in Elliot Johnston Insurance. In 1979, having purchased the interest of Harry Elliot, I moved my office to the Cielo Vista Bank building where I was the first tenant. I continued there until 1982 when I merged my business with Rogers & Belding Insurance Agency (now Wells Fargo Insurance Services). I subsequently retired in 1986 after 31 years in the insurance agency business. During my business years, I served as President of the Independent Agents Association of El Paso and was honored as "Agent of the Year" in 1976. I subsequently served as a Director of the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas. I was appointed to the Agents Advisory Board of several insurance companies, founded and served as a Chairman of the Mexican Fiesta Annual Golf Tournament of the local Agents Association until I retired in 1986. I served in a number of community activities, including P.T.A'S, boy Scouts and was President of the Kiwanis Club of Mt. Franklin, where I had 38 years of Perfect Attendance. I was a member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church for over 40 years, a member of Fraternity Lodge 1111, El Paso Consistory of Scottish Rite Bodies and El Maida Shrine. I was an avid outdoorsman, including golfing hunting and fishing. I golfed at all the local courses and was a charter member of Santa Teresa Country Club. My hunts included deer & elk in Texas, Utah & Colorado. I hunted pheasants in South Dakota, Nebraska & Iowa with my good friend Harry Merritt. I fished at Elephant Butte & Caballo Reservoir with my friends, Jay Merritt and Bob Wayne. I fished at O.H. Ivey Reservoir & Amistad Reservoir with my wife Rosalee, sister: Betty; and friend C.W. Miller. Rosalee and I, during our 60 years of marriage traveled to many beautiful places, including Hawaii, Spain, Puerto Rico, England and Scotland. We enjoyed many trips to our timeshare at Orange Lake Country Club in Florida with Betty & C.W. Miller. I was an RV enthusiast beginning in 1950 with a tent top trailer and culminating with a 32' Winnebago Motorhome in 2007. During the interviewing years, my friend, Harry Merritt & I rebuilt 4 wrecked Airstream trailers. Following my retirement in 1986, Rosalee and I, often accompanied by my sister Betty & C.W. Miller, traveled extensively in our motorhome to the West coast, Canada Branson, Mo., and the East-Coast. We enjoyed several trips to the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta where we visited our longtime friends Fred & Jean Rister. I was quite a poet with most of my poems about Rosalee or my deceased friends. The last poem I wrote was to Rosalee, when she passed away in June 2008 & I ended it like Old Roy always said "if I had to do it all over again, I'd do it with you". So you see folks, I really did have a wonderful life! Graveside Service and Interment will be at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 17, 2015 at Fort Bliss National Cemetery. Service under the direction of HILLCREST FUNERAL HOME 1060 Carolina 598-3332