July 19, 1926 to July 13, 2019
Reverend Clifford DeWitt Johnston peacefully entered his eternal home Saturday morning, July 13, 2019, at age 92. Clifford was born on July 19, 1926, in Fort Worth, Texas, to Manton DeWitt and Stella Bess Hand Johnston. He married Billie Charline King on August 17, 1951 and had three sons — David, Charles and Michael. Clifford lived his life in faithful service to the Lord as a Baptist pastor serving congregations in Hillsboro, Marfa and Alvin. He and Charline then moved to Arlington, where Clifford was instrumental in starting the chaplaincy program at Medical City Hospital Arlington. He served as chaplain for 20 years.
Clifford was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Charline; his brother, Jim; his sister, Dorothy; his granddaughter Alisha; his daughter-in-law Cinde; and his son Michael. He is survived by his sons David (and his wife, Sherrill) and Charles (and his wife, Kathy); his grandson, Daniel (and his wife, Arin); his granddaughter, Abby (and her husband, Blake); and his three great-grandchildren — Nathan, Levi and Alisha Danielle.
After graduating from Fort Worth’s Amon Carter Riverside High School, Clifford attended Texas A&M to study civil engineering. He put his studies on hold to enlist in the United States Army Air Force, serving in World War II from 1944 to 1945. After an honorable discharge, he continued his education at Baylor University, obtaining degrees in English and Bible. He went on to receive his Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and later pursued post-graduate studies in counseling and psychology at the University of Houston.
His denominational activities included time as the president of District 7 of the Baptist General Convention of Texas (president), director of Paisano Encampment in Alpine, Texas, and dozens of committees at the associational and district level.
His service also extended to the communities he served as co-founder and executive board member of a health services program for Alvin Community Health Endeavor, a member of the Alvin Chamber of Commerce, a coach in youth baseball leagues, the first president of Alvin Museum Society and participation in various other community service organizations.
Clifford will be remembered as a committed Dallas sports fan; an advocate of dessert after dinner; and a generous, loving son, husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Most of all, however, his legacy lives in the uncountable number of lives he touched in service of the Lord. The kingdom is fuller and richer because of Clifford.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 17, 6pm to 8pm at Moore Funeral Home (1219 N. Davis Drive, Arlington, TX) with a Service of Celebration of Life at Noon on Thursday, July 18, at First Baptist Church of Arlington (300 S. Center Street, Arlington, TX).
The family requests memorials be made to “Mission Arlington”
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