Don K. Johnston

Don was born on January 25, 1919 to Dorothy (Morgan) Johnston (deceased 1963) and Clyde F. (Jack) Johnston (deceased 1978) at home in Anderson, Indiana, and passed away on December 17, 2018. He had one brother, Johnny Johnston (deceased 2009).

He married Marilyn Annetta (Butner) Johnston on February 27, 1942 in Anderson, Indiana. They had three children, Marilyn Ruth Johnston, Windfall, Indiana; Lyman Victor Johnston (deceased 2014) Hampton, Virginia; and Matthew Joel Johnston (Patti LuPone) Kent, Connecticut; four grandchildren, Andrea Meghan Sampson and Clinton Ross Sampson, Cumming, Georgia; Allison Leigh Johnston, Newport News, Virginia and Joshua Luke Johnston, Kent, Connecticut.

Don attended Anderson High School, Anderson, Indiana and graduated in May 1937. After high school he worked with his Uncle ‘Bat’ Bousman as a radio repair technician in Camden, Ohio until October, 1942 when he enlisted in the Army Air Corp, completing his basic training in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and then moving on to Radio School in Sioux Falls, South Dakota in 1943 for sixteen weeks. After completing his radio training, Don transferred to Radar School in Melbourne, Florida for six weeks. He and Marilyn then relocated to Pendleton, Oregon where he served as a radio mechanic until the fall of 1943 when he was discharged due to limited service (bad knee).

Don and Marilyn returned to Anderson, Indiana where Don began working at Delco Remy for five months, before leaving to work at Delco Radio for two years. Thanks to Marilyn’s sister Marjorie Hines, Don submitted his job application to Arthur Ball (Ball Memorial Hospital, Muncie, Indiana), where he worked as Mr. Ball’s personal assistant for one year prior to Mr. Ball’s death. Don then moved on to working at Guarantee Tire and Rubber in Anderson and Pierce Governor in Anderson for a year at each business. In 1946, Don began working for John J. Garrett, Inc. (limited motor service, a subsidiary of General Motors) for thirteen years as a sales rep for auto parts in Central Indiana, and was awarded, Salesman of the Year for all the U.S. In 1959, Don was presented with the opportunity to work for Delco Radio in Kokomo at a better wage. During his time at Delco, he worked in Department 139, the Specification Lab, then moving onto Product Assurance until he retired in January 1981.

Don had a life-long love for antique wireless radios, Civil War history, antique steam engines, and antique automobiles. After retiring Don and Marilyn traveled extensively to antique meetings, and to see their children and grandchildren, from New York, to Connecticut, Virginia, Iowa, and Montana. Don always regretted not being able to visit Ireland and Scotland.

Don was blessed with many wonderful friends over the years who he enjoyed and cherished. Towards the end of his long and rewarding life, some were there for him in many extra ways: Larry Hayes, Mike and Ellen Schwartz, Michelle Mathews, Ed Cotterman, Ed and Sandy Roberts, John and Peg MacJannet, Tony and Jane Browning, Jerry and Sue Vawter, along with his many ham radio friends.

Funeral Services for Don will take place Monday January 21, 2019 at Ellers Mortuary Webster Chapel; 3400 South Webster Street with Pastor Carl Roudebush officiating. Visiting hours will be from 11am to 1pm with the service beginning at 1pm. Burial will follow at Brookside Cemetery in Windfall.

In lieu of flowers, friends may donate to the ASPCA, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Please visit www.ellersmortuarywebster.com to sign the guest book, leave an online condolence for the family, leave a contribution and to check the status of the funeral, weather permitting.