Wendell Lewis Johnston, age 78, of Jackson, passed away Wednesday, April 11, 2018 at Four Winds Community. He was born Aug. 19, 1939 in Wellston, Ohio to the late Joseph Lewis Johnston and Gladys L. (Bocook) Johnston.
Wendell was a 1957 graduate of Wellston High School. He was a veteran of the United States Air Force. He retired from American Electric Power, the Coal Mining Division. He was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church.
Wendell had many gifts from God and he used them to help all. His gift for solving problems he used to improve the work environment for his employer and fellow minors; his gift for woodworking to beautify the church with handmade alter candle sticks and bigger than life rosaries; and for the community he used his creativity to make Jackson Apple Water Tower clocks and donated them to the Southern Ohio Arts Council. Wendell will be missed by all whose lives he touched.
He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Connie Walker Johnston; son, Robert “Bob” (Jackie) Johnston of Wellston; daughter, Lisa (Chris) Jackson of Wewako, Oklahoma; stepdaughter, Kimberley (Randey) Smith of Huntington Beach, California; stepson, Steven Walker of Jackson; along with grandchildren, Steven (Courtney) Johnston, Jennifer (Jeremy) Faulkner, Adam Johnston, Roger Dean, April Dean, Alicia Walker, Tara Fenwick, and Nicklaus Smith; one brother, Joseph “Joe” (Sue) Johnston of Dayton, Ohio; sisters, Lelia “Kit” (Jim) Beckner of Hamden and Lorene (Keith) Woolum of Wellston; sister-in-law, Cindy Anderson, along with 10 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Besides his parents, Wendell was preceded in death by one brother, Charles William Johnston and an infant son.
A special thanks to Father Donald Maroon for his spiritual attention to Wendell these last few months and to special longtime friend and doctor, Douglas Jones, for his care beyond the call of duty.
In lieu of flowers and condolences, the family asks that you give your loved ones a hug and tell them how much you love them.
Wendell will be cremated with burial to follow in Wellston Ridgewood Cemetery. A memorial mass will be scheduled at the convenience of the family. Arrangements are under the direction of the Mayhew-Brown Funeral Home and Southern Ohio Cremation Services in Jackson.