Mason Johnston

Beloved husband and devoted father, Mason William (Bill) Johnston (85), of Mt. Airy, MD passed away on June 17, 2014. Bill was born July 30, 1928 on the family farm in Eufola, North Carolina, near Statesville. As a young boy he was tasked with helping to keep the farm operable during the Great Depression. The poor economic conditions prevailed and the farm was lost. The family moved twice within North Carolina before settling in Portsmouth, Virginia in the summer of 1943. During his high school years he was an avid athlete and participated in football, basketball, and baseball. His greatest regret in life was being too young to serve during WW II. He was 17 years old at the end of the war and service members were not needed. After the war, Bill served in the Merchant Marines (serving as an oiler and fireman on Liberty Ships) and the Army Air Corps (serving at Keesler Field in Biloxi, Mississippi on a crash rescue boat). After serving in the military Bill attended North Carolina State University in Raleigh where he studied mechanical engineering and played football for the Wolf Pack. After college he worked for a short time for McDonnell Douglas in St. Louis, MO, and a short time at the Norfolk Naval Ship Yard in Portsmouth, VA. After those jobs he started his full career at IBM. Bill was part of the design team for IBM’s industry milestone System/360 computer. He retired from IBM in 1987 after completing a 32 year career.
Bill was married to Jean Jewell (Johnston) on June 5, 1954. Jean passed away on November 13, 2013 after 59 years of marriage. He is survived by his three children and their families, Susan Robertson and son Mason and friend Dave Kazmaier of Mt. Airy MD, Margaret Johnston, her husband, Bruce Schinklewitz, and their three children, Brantley, Lauren, and Rory of Beaverton OR, and William Johnston and his wife, Donna, and their two children, Allison, and Will of Walkersville MD.
Bill was pre-deceased by his parents, Grace Brantley Johnston and Mason Wiley Johnston (Portsmouth, VA), sisters, Gladys Reedhead (Sarasota, FL) and Thelma Reifel (Marble Falls TX), and brother, Richard (Oakland, CA), and is survived by a sister, Grace McCormick (Chesapeake, VA).
Bill was a member of the Presbyterian Church for most of his life and served in many capacities in the church. He was also a member of the Pentalpha Masonic Lodge of Gaithersburg, MD. When he and Jean moved to Mt. Airy they joined the United Methodist Church. A memorial service will be held at Darnstown Presbyterian Church on Saturday, June 28th @ 9:30AM. Internment of ashes will follow the service. Anyone wishing to make a memorial contribution should send them to American Legion Post 191, Mt. Airy, MD.