Harry Samuel Johnston, 61, son of Harry M. and Alberta VanSteemburg Johnston, was born Aug. 4, 1946, at Newburgh, N.Y. He died June 21, 2008, after a short illness.
During his father’s active military career, the family moved frequently. After leaving Newburgh, they lived in Munich, Germany, Fort Dix, N.J., and settled at Raymondville.
Mr. Johnson graduated in 1966 from Houston High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in December 1968, serving in Vietnam and Thailand. After his honorable discharge in 1972, he enlisted in the Active Reserves and National Guard. During his military duty, he visited several countries including Germany, Puerto Rico and Panama. He retired in 1998 to spend more time with his family.
He married Sandra Hall Oct. 4, 1980. They had four children. They divorced in 2002.
Mr. Johnston worked at Wal-Mart in Houston for many years before going to work for Civil Service, where he did small arms repair. He was working in the department of logistics storage warehouse at the time of his death.
He regularly volunteered for river field trips with the biology department at Licking High School. During these excursions, he provided hands-on experience in cooking on a bonfire and eating MREs.
He enjoyed the outdoors and was an avid bow and rifle hunter. His marksmanship and knowledge of weapons gained in the military served him well and became a lifelong hobby. An eight-point buck while deer hunting made the state records.
He visited local swap meets and flea markets, and his Confederate and American flags waving in the breeze drew people to him.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Surviving are his children, Meghan Johnston of Rockford, Minn., and Erin Skaggs, Sidney Johnston and Tyler Johnston of Licking; two sisters, Louese “Tilly” Johnston of St. Joseph and Deborah Lee of Monticello, Ill.; and two grandchildren.
Services were June 25 at the Evans Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Wesley Wallace officiating. Burial was in the Allen Cemetery.