OBIT: John O'Dell JOHNSTON, 1940, Salisbury, Somerset County, PA

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Meyersdale Library.
Transcribed and proofread by: Richard Boyer.

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JOHN O'DELL JOHNSTON

  John O'Dell Johnston, born in Harrisburg, Pa., died at his home in Salisbury, 
Nov. 3, 1940, at the age of 70 years, 11 months and 16 days, after an illness of 
eight years, five of which he was confined to his bed.  His long illness was 
caused by a paralytic stroke from which he never fully recovered.   A cerebral 
hemorrhage caused his death at 5:30 p.m. on the date above mentioned.
  He and a younger sister, Miss Carrie Johnston, lived all alone in the last 
earthly home of their parents, Rev. E. S. Johnston, D.D., and wife, whose maiden 
name was Ann O'Dell.  He was a faithful member of the Lutheran Church, as were 
also his parents, who located in Salisbury in 1894, coming here from Stoystown.  
His father efficiently served many congregations of his church until old age 
forced him to retire.  The aged minister and wife both died in Salisbury, she in 
December, 1921, aged upwards of 80 years, and he in July, 1926, aged upwards of 
90.
  Like his esteemed parents, John O. Johnston was liked by all who knew him.  He 
was a mechanical printer by trade, and followed that occupation for many years, 
under different employers.  He was employed for seven or eight years by the 
writer, P. L. Livengood, who spent the best years of his life in the newspaper 
and job printing business, and it affords this old employer great pleasure in 
saying that he never had a more honest and loyal employee than John O. Johnston.  
It was in the latter years of his life, while employed by his brother, Robert, 
as job printer, that paralysis ended his working days.
  For eight years his devoted sister, Miss Carrie Johnston, now for some years a 
retired school teacher, took the best care of her afflicted brother, assisted at 
intervals by their brother, Robert, in an adjoining home.
  Although of frail body and crippled from his childhood, Mr. Johnston seldom 
complained, and his natural disposition was to see the bright side of life, and 
live in accordance with the Golden Rule. He also had a keen sense of humor, but 
never exercised it in a way that humiliated others.
  He is survived by his sister, Carrie, brother, Robert H., of Salisbury, and 
two other brothers, Edward S., of Altoona, Pa., and R. P. Johnston, of Odebalt, 
Iowa. 
  The funeral service was conducted at his parental home by his pastor, Rev. S. 
D. Sigler, Wednesday morning, at 10:30 o'clock.  Burial arrangements were in 
charge of Stanley M. Thomas, Salisbury mortician, who took the body to Altoona, 
Pa., for interment in Fairview Cemetery, near the graves of his parents.

Meyersdale Republican, November 7, 1940