Wilbur I. Johnston

Wilbur Johnston was born on December 16, 1915 and died on October 18, 2013. He was born in Houston and lived virtually his entire life in the City. Wilbur was one of five children born of John and Ella Powers Johnston. He had an older sister, Georgia, an identical twin brother, William and two younger sisters, Dorothy and Marjorie.

Wilbur was married for over 60 years to Verna Jernigan Johnston who predeceased him on January 8, 2008. They had three children, Robert E. Johnston, Michael W. Johnston and Howard Alan Johnston who died in 1977. Wilbur and Verna also had six grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Wilbur served in the United States Air Force during World War II. After being honorably discharged, Wilbur worked at the United States Postal Service until his retirement in 1973. At the time of his retirement, Wilbur had advanced to the position of Director of Safety for the Southern Region of the United States Postal Service. While serving as Safety Director for the Houston Postal Service, the Houston Post Office received a number of awards relating to safety, including a National Award for the Most Consecutive Man Hours Worked Without a Lost Time Injury. Wilbur was the only member of the American Society of Safety Engineers who did not have an engineering degree. In fact, Wilbur achieved this distinction even though he had never taken a college course. Several of the safety measures that are employed by the Postal Service today were implemented by Wilbur. For example, the mirrors on the front of Postal vehicles are there because of Wilbur Johnston.

Visitation and Services for the celebration of Wilbur’s life will take place on Wednesday, October 23, 2013 at Waltrip Funeral Directors located at 1415 Campbell Road, Houston, Texas 77055. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. and services will start at 11:00 a.m. Burial will take place at South Park Cemetery.