Howard R. Johnston

Howard Raymond Johnston, 86, devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, of 31 N. Park Ave., Meadville, formerly of Hartz Ave., Meadville and Cochranton, passed away Saturday, May 21, 2011, at Wesbury United Methodist Community, Meadville.
Howard was born in Meadville on April 6, 1925, son of the late Homer and Bessie (Crawford) Johnston.
On October 11, 1946 Howard married Mary L. Lingo; she preceded him in death on March 6, 2008.
After many years of service, Howard retired from Channellock Corp. where he had been employed as a foreman. On July 15, 1950 he had completed training in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Maintenance from Commercial Trades Institute of Chicago, IL. For more than 30 years he and his wife, Mary, were Pearl Distributors for Amway Corp. A veteran of the US Army during WWII, Howard served in the Pacific Theatre and was inducted into the Ancient Order of the Deep as a Trusty Shellback on May 11, 1944 upon crossing the equator while serving on the S.S. Lurine. Together Howard and his wife, Mary, spent several winters in Leesburg, FL. One of his greatest joys in life was sharing his boat and fishing on Pymatuning with his family and friends. He had been an active member of the Meadville Kiwanis Club and a former member of the North Shore Boat Club of Pymatuning Lake.
Howard is survived by a daughter-in-law Barbara Johnston of Meadville, a grandson Jason Johnston of Erie, a great granddaughter Kylie Johnston, a sister Margaret (Peg) Stewart of Meadville, a brother John Johnston of Stoneboro, a sister-in-law Janet Lingo of Meadville, nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents and wife, Mary, of 61 years, Howard was preceded in death by a son, Raymond 'Butch' Johnston, two sisters Helen MacArthur, Anne Ashcraft and a brother-in-law Ladd Lingo.
Family and friends are invited to call on Tuesday, May 24, from 11-1 at Cribbs Chapel at Wesbury United Methodist Retirement Community, 31 N. Park Ave., Meadville where Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 PM with Pastor Harvey Boal of Cochranton Presbyterian Church officiating.
Interment will take place in Roselawn Memorial Gardens, Meadville.
Arrangements are under the direction of Stephen P. Mizner Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc., 404 Chestnut St., Meadville, PA 16335.
Share your condolences at www.miznerfuneralhome.com