Lt. Col. (USAF Ret) Charles "Charlie" Johnston, 96, of Mansfield passed away at Riverside Health Care Center, August 22, 2011. He was a graduate of Tech High in Atlanta. Col. Johnston was a member of the 8th Air Force, serving as a navigator and bombardier in WWII and the Korean Conflict. He was the navigator for the lead plane of the first mass Trans Atlantic flight of the B47, and a member of the Strategic Air Command. He was a decorated officer, retiring after 30 years of service. Charlie then began a career in human resources for the State of Georgia. After his second retirement, Charlie and his wife, Dot, enjoyed traveling. He was a former member of the First United Methodist Church of Atlanta where he was a member of the Hemphill Sunday School Class. Col. Johnston was Sunday School teacher for many years at Epworth Methodist Church in Savannah. He was a long-time member of Covington First United Methodist Church where he was a member of the Christian Fellowship Sunday School Class. Col. Johnston was preceded in death by his wife of 35 years, Carol Quillian Johnston, and parents, Darling Luther and Martha Ethel (Taylor) Johnston.
Survivors include his wife of 37 years, Dorothy Hays Johnston of Mansfield; daughter, Charlene Hall (Robert) of Dunwoody; sons, Harvey Tyler Johnston (Trish) of Marquez, TX, Charles Marvin Johnston (Teresa) of Dawsonville; step-children, Mike Johnson of Lizella, Becky Creech (Paul) of Cullman, AL; 10 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren; as well as numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.
A Memorial Service for Col. Johnston will be held at 10:30 A.M., Saturday, August 27, 2011, at Covington First United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends, in the Church Fellowship Hall, following the service until 12:30 P.M. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Covington First United Methodist Church, 1113 Conyers Street, SE, Covington, Georgia 30014, or the American Cancer Society, 1684 Barnett Shoals Road, Athens, GA 30605.
www.caldwellandcowan.com to place online condolences 770-786-7062
