Christopher Lee Johnston

Christopher Lee Johnston of Acworth, GA passed away unexpectedly at 40 years old on January 22, 2025 in a tragic car accident. He was born on October 16, 1984 to Ralph Jr. (Butch) and Karen Johnston in Fayetteville, NC.

His family is deeply saddened and profoundly shocked by his sudden passing. Chris is survived and loved by his wife Emilie, daughter Erin, son Aiden, father Butch and stepmother Lisa, mother Karen and stepfather Bob. He is forever remembered and loved by his sister Lisa and brother-in-law Ben, nieces and nephews Caleb, Loryn, Elijah, Adyson, and Noah, the mother of his children Aimee, and best friend Brian.

Influenced by his grandfather Ralph’s passion for flying, he diligently pursued a highly competitive Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) pilot slot in 2008 through Georgia Tech. He accomplished this while simultaneously attending Kennesaw State University. Upon entering the Air Force in 2009, he graduated from pilot training at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi, in 2011. Subsequently, he was assigned to fly the C-17 Globemaster III out of Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina. His rapid advancement led to the roles of aircraft commander and instructor pilot, with multiple deployments to Iraq. This was followed by a tour at Edwards Air Force Base, California, where he continued flying the C-17 in operational flight test missions. During his tour there, he played a pivotal role as part of the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation team working with the Special Projects Office. After concluding his Air Force career as a Captain, he transitioned to civilian aviation in 2019, joining the renowned Clay Lacy Aviation in California. He flew a Bombardier Global 6000 corporate jet worldwide for the CEO of a major pharmaceutical company. Then moving to Kennesaw Georgia in 2021 to be close to his children, he joined Solairus Aviation operating a new Global 5500 for a business entrepreneur. Friends who flew with Chris were often told by him that there were only three things you needed to be a pilot. You have to look good, smell good, and sound good. He fit that to a tee!

While humility was not his strong suit, his excitement for flying was contagious and his love to share the flying experience helped to inspire people to become pilots themselves. In 2011, he took his daughter Erin, who was two years old at the time, on her first airplane ride in a Cessna. A few years later, he gave his nephew Caleb Doolittle his first flight at the age of eleven. This encounter led Caleb to pursue a career in aviation, and he is currently enrolled in Air Force ROTC at BYU, taking flying lessons. More recently, Chris acquired a beautiful RV-6 two-seat sports airplane, which was hangared alongside the corporate jet he was flying. For what ultimately proved to be his final flight in that aircraft, he took his son Aiden on a memorable cross-country journey to California, soaring over the iconic Grand Canyon.

One of the most remarkable qualities admired about Chris was his profound love for his children. He cherished spending time with them and creating unforgettable memories together. For instance, in 2018, he and Emilie took Erin to her first concert, a Taylor Swift concert where she experienced a truly awe-inspiring moment. Every summer, they would plan a special family trip to a city of the children’s choosing, with the stipulations that it was a destination they had never visited and that they both agreed with. Their most recent trip was to Boston, which included an unforgettable experience at Fenway Park. They secured seats in the first row behind the Sox dugout at first base, allowing Aiden to indulge in his passion for baseball, making the occasion even more special for him. The memories they created during these trips will undoubtedly be cherished by the kids and Emilie.

Those who knew Chris will remember him for his dynamic presence. He had a passion for music starting at a young age, playing in a high school garage band and continued to inspire others to improvise musical renditions with him at home and abroad. Being a creative person, he played around with composing his own music spending hours with his drums and guitars. When traveling for work and stopping in different towns and countries, he would walk all over, one time claimed he walked up to 30 miles.

A boldness and zest for living in the moment, Chris was not afraid to walk into foreign cafés, bookstores, and bars that had entertainment and find a way to join the band on the stage. Chris’s mind was always going, and he would often jot down his thoughts in old books he found at bookstores.

Having never met a stranger, he never minded being alone while visiting towns because he always found someone to engage either in conversation, music or an hour of comedy. Friends always gravitated to him when in need of friendly ear or advice. He loved to give advice! Whether it was good or not.

He felt his gift to the world was perspective—actually, hearing and seeing anyone… and making sure others know how important it is to realize how insignificant we are. Much like his grandpa Richard, a great storyteller, and adventurer, he shared his conversations he had while abroad with many types of people. He shocked us, entertained us, inspired us, and was so very loved by us.

Chris stated while sharing one of his stories “I think realizing how insignificant you are gives you the purpose to actually become significant”. Chris… you were significant, an irreplaceable soul and will be sorely missed by many.