Ralph Buford Johnston (1916 - 2018)

Born 11 Oct 1916 in Greene County, Tennessee

Ancestors

Died 13 May 2018 at age 101 in Greeneville, Tennessee

Biography

Ralph Buford Johnston was born Oct. 11, 1916, in Greene County and died Sunday in Greeneville.

He was preceded in death by his parents: Cordie Morrell Johnston and Hugh Reno Johnston; his first wife: Mary Ruth Ottinger; one sister: Edith Dunn; two brothers: James Johnston and Hugh Johnston Jr.; his second wife: Fawn Reeser; one great-grandson: Jackson Johnston; and special companion: Irene Stills.

He is survived by his daughter: Patricia Brewer and her husband, Lynn, of Morristown; son: Ralph Johnston Jr. and his wife, Faith, of Piney Flats; five grandchildren and their spouses: Hugh and Deb Brewer, of Virginia, Wess and Christine Brewer, of South Carolina, Jason and Jackee Johnston, of Tennessee, Jasper (Johnston) and Bert Jolley, of Georgia, and Janette (Johnston) and Michael Natter, of New York; eight great-grandchildren: Hannah, Joshua and Benjamin Brewer, of Texas, Anna and Jessica Brewer, of South Carolina, Jayce Johnston, of Tennessee, and Archer and August Jolley, of Georgia; several nieces and nephews; and a special neighbor: Sammy Anderson.

He graduated as valedictorian from Greeneville High School in 1935 and was the first member of his family to attain a college degree, which he did as a member of the 1939 class of Tusculum College with a degree in mathematics and minor in religion.

He worked for East Tennessee Light and Power Company beginning in 1940 and retired after 27 years in 1972 from Tennessee Valley Authority.

In his retirement, he toured each of the 50 states and 47 countries on six of the seven continents. In addition to travel, he enjoyed square dancing and regularly hosted Rook players at his home. He enjoyed coin collecting and repairing antique clocks.

He was a member of New Ebenezer Presbyterian Church both as a child and again toward the end of his life.

He lived in his own home until after the age of 101.

The family expressed a special thanks to his caretaker Doris Stanton and the caring staff at Signature HealthCARE of Greeneville.

The family will receive friends from 4-6 p.m. Sunday at Kiser-Rose Hill Funeral Home.

A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at GreeneLawn Memory Gardens with Mary Jane Farmer, commissioned lay pastor, officiating. Family and friends are asked to meet at the cemetery for the committal service.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.kiserrosehillfuneralhome.com.

Sources

• https://www.greenevillesun.com/obituaries/ralph-buford-johnston-died-may/article_b53aeb3a-6f9f-582a-b231-439c6b90eaf8.html