R. Bruce Johnston

Bruce was born to Mildred and A.W. Johnston on Feb. 1, 1922, in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. The family soon moved to Graham, Texas. Bruce spent much of his time growing up in the outdoors. Joining the Boy Scouts, he earned the Eagle Scout award. He also learned to fish which became a lifetime passion.

In 1939 he graduated from Graham High School and enrolled in Texas Tech College in Lubbock, Texas and earned a BA in Physics. He was a lifetime member of Alpha Phi Omega, a service fraternity. Supporting the war effort in California, he installed electric wires in PT boats. Later, he returned to Texas and enrolled at the University of Texas at Austin, where he began work on a master's degree in physics.

While attending UT, he met Peggy, and according to Bruce, "It was the best thing that ever happened to me." They married in Tyler, Texas, on Jan. 3, 1948. After he finished his master's degree in Physics, they moved to Washington, D. C., where both worked at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab. He did research for the Navy as a physicist and Peggy worked as a mathematician. They returned to Austin where Bruce earned his doctorate in physics at the University of Texas. Bruce enjoyed a long and successful career as a Physics professor at the University of Texas at Austin, Southwest Texas Sate University, and St. Edwards University. Throughout his long life Bruce had a passion for teaching college students, soldiers and high school teachers. He always had a sense of humor and an optimistic attitude. Bruce and Peggy had a passion for fishing, traveling and family gatherings. They visited many places in the world and fished in most of them.

The past four years Bruce lived at the skilled Nursing Unit at the Plaza where he received devoted and compassionate care by the incredible staff to whom he and Peggy will always be so grateful.

Bruce is survived by his wife of 64 years, Peggy; his daughter Laura; son Douglas and wife Celia, and granddaughters Nicole and Jessica; son David and wife Sharon; David's children Travis, Graham and wife Nicki, great-grandson Henry; and Sharon's children, Lance and Mary Abby.

A memorial service will be held at the chapel of Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, South Congress location at 11:00 am on Friday June 15, 2012. Reception to follow at Querencia at Barton Creek.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Therapy Pet Pals of Texas, Inc. http://www.therapypetpals.org