2011
William
2011
William Johnston
January 26, 2011 — January 26, 2011
AUSTINTOWN - There will be funeral services Monday at 11 a.m. at the Higgins-Reardon Funeral Home, Austintown Chapel, for William E. "Bill" Johnston, who died early Saturday morning at his home.
William was born Nov. 14, 1924, in New Springfield, the son of John Matthew Johnston and Nora E. Parson Johnston. The family settled in Austintown when Bill was a child.
He graduated from Austintown Fitch High School with the Class of 1942. He was inducted into the U.S. Army in 1942 and served in the Alaskan and Indian Theater as a T/5 Sergeant with the 286th Port Company. He was honorably discharged in 1946 and then served in the U.S. Army Reserves. Under the G.I. Bill, he attended Youngstown College.
Bill worked at Bostwick Steel Lath in Niles and Hynes Steel in Austintown. He retired from Youngstown Sheet & Tube after 30 years, working in various shops but primarily as a scale repairman. Later in life, Bill also held several part-time jobs, including working as a school bus aide for the Leonard Kirtz School.
William was a charter member of both the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church and St. Joseph Church in Austintown.
He was a sports fan and especially followed the Atlanta Braves and pro football. He was an early fan of NASCAR, attending Canfield Speedway races in the 1960s with his son, Chris. His musical hobbies included playing the guitar and banjo, and he enjoyed repairing and refurbishing player pianos with his brother-in-law, Ray "Max" Kachurek. Bill enjoyed playing cards and trips to Mountaineer. He enjoyed reading, with an interest in crime fiction, and had many favorite authors.
William leaves his wife, the former Rita M. Kachurek, whom he married June 10, 1950. He also leaves one daughter, Kathleen A. Russell J. Davies of Boardman; two sons, Christopher W. and Jeffrey M., both of Austintown; two grandsons, Kevin J. Davies, currently attending Kent State University, and Nicholas M. Knuff of San Diego; one granddaughter, Caitlin Knuff Nowakowski of San Diego; a son-in-law, Michael F. Knuff of San Diego; one sister, Louise Conn of Poland; one brother, John M. Shirley Johnston of Brookfield; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
Besides his parents, William was preceded in death by a daughter, Noreen M. Johnston Knuff on Nov. 12, 2002 in San Diego; a sister, Jean Johnston Brenner and husband Andrew Brenner; a brother-in-law, Carl Conn; and his godfather, George Semeraro.
The Johnston family would like to thank their wonderful neighbors; the Dobson family; the staff at Senior Independence Home Health Care & Hospice; Dr. Barbara M. Modic and her staff; Father Gregory Fedor and Deacon Michael Roberts, for the compassionate care and love given to Bill during his illness.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Senior Independence Hospice, 6715 Tippecanoe Road, Canfield, OH 44406.
Friends may call from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday at the Higgins-Reardon Funeral Home, Austintown Chapel.
William was born Nov. 14, 1924, in New Springfield, the son of John Matthew Johnston and Nora E. Parson Johnston. The family settled in Austintown when Bill was a child.
He graduated from Austintown Fitch High School with the Class of 1942. He was inducted into the U.S. Army in 1942 and served in the Alaskan and Indian Theater as a T/5 Sergeant with the 286th Port Company. He was honorably discharged in 1946 and then served in the U.S. Army Reserves. Under the G.I. Bill, he attended Youngstown College.
Bill worked at Bostwick Steel Lath in Niles and Hynes Steel in Austintown. He retired from Youngstown Sheet & Tube after 30 years, working in various shops but primarily as a scale repairman. Later in life, Bill also held several part-time jobs, including working as a school bus aide for the Leonard Kirtz School.
William was a charter member of both the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church and St. Joseph Church in Austintown.
He was a sports fan and especially followed the Atlanta Braves and pro football. He was an early fan of NASCAR, attending Canfield Speedway races in the 1960s with his son, Chris. His musical hobbies included playing the guitar and banjo, and he enjoyed repairing and refurbishing player pianos with his brother-in-law, Ray "Max" Kachurek. Bill enjoyed playing cards and trips to Mountaineer. He enjoyed reading, with an interest in crime fiction, and had many favorite authors.
William leaves his wife, the former Rita M. Kachurek, whom he married June 10, 1950. He also leaves one daughter, Kathleen A. Russell J. Davies of Boardman; two sons, Christopher W. and Jeffrey M., both of Austintown; two grandsons, Kevin J. Davies, currently attending Kent State University, and Nicholas M. Knuff of San Diego; one granddaughter, Caitlin Knuff Nowakowski of San Diego; a son-in-law, Michael F. Knuff of San Diego; one sister, Louise Conn of Poland; one brother, John M. Shirley Johnston of Brookfield; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
Besides his parents, William was preceded in death by a daughter, Noreen M. Johnston Knuff on Nov. 12, 2002 in San Diego; a sister, Jean Johnston Brenner and husband Andrew Brenner; a brother-in-law, Carl Conn; and his godfather, George Semeraro.
The Johnston family would like to thank their wonderful neighbors; the Dobson family; the staff at Senior Independence Home Health Care & Hospice; Dr. Barbara M. Modic and her staff; Father Gregory Fedor and Deacon Michael Roberts, for the compassionate care and love given to Bill during his illness.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Senior Independence Hospice, 6715 Tippecanoe Road, Canfield, OH 44406.
Friends may call from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday at the Higgins-Reardon Funeral Home, Austintown Chapel.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of William Johnston, please visit our flower store.
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