Mr. Johnston died Saturday, April 10, 2010 at his home near Bolivar.
A native of Wilson, Arkansas, he was the son of the late Robert Edward and Grace Rayburn Johnston. A life-long fisherman, Mr. Johnston enjoyed music, trout fishing and riding horses. He was a US Navy veteran having served in the Korean War, where he received the Purple Heart. Mr. Johnston married the former Thelma Smith on July 12, 1972.
He leaves his wife, Thelma Johnston of Bolivar; two daughters, Cathy Vandiver and husband, Curtis, of Hornsby and Teresa Smith Taylor and her husband, Andrew, of Germantown; a son, Rick Johnston of Toone; two brothers, A. J. Setclift of Arkansas and Jess Deaton of California; six grandchildren, Ashley Johnston Banks, Jenica Howard and her husband, James, Jacob Vandiver and his wife, Courtney, Zach Vandiver, Sydney Lanyon and Reece Taylor.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Johnston was preceded in death by a sister, Elizabeth Warren; and a brother, Joseph Johnston.