George F. Johnston

George F. Johnston of Westcott Drive, Lancaster, formerly of Hamilton Road, died peacefully on September 3, 2014 at Homestead Village. Born December 8, 1922 at Ft. Morgan, Colorado, he was a son of the late Fred Byron and Dorothy Carruth Johnston. George was the husband of Dawn Kindler Johnston. They would have celebrated their 65th anniversary in October 2014. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his sons: Jeffrey S. Johnston, Atlanta, GA, Randall M. Johnston, husband of Kathy Barto, Lancaster, PA, six grandchildren: Ashley, Paige, Chase, Laura, Benjamin, Blake Johnston, and a sister, Marilyn Johnston Linker, of Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was preceded in death by a brother, Carl Carruth Johnston, and a sister, Dorothy Jean Johnston Dyar. George graduated from Ft. Morgan High School in Fort Morgan, Colorado; the University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, with a B.S. in Chemistry; the Institute of Management, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois; and The Strategic Management Course, Arden House, Columbia University, New York. He served in the US Naval Air Corps in World War ll for three years. As a Cadet, he received basic training in Livermore, California, and then was sent to Pensacola, Florida where he received his wings and was commissioned an officer, Lt(jg), and aviator. He flew carrier based F6F Hellcat fighter planes, and ultimately was assigned to Air Group 5, Squadron VBF-5, based in Astoria, Oregon. In 1947 George joined Armstrong World Industries, Inc. as a marketing representative in the Floor Division. After assignments in several district offices, including that of assistant district manager in Chicago and district manager in Cleveland, he moved to Lancaster in 1957 as a marketing manager. In 1968 he was named general sales manager of the Floor Division. Five years later he was elected a vice-president of the company and was named chief planning officer. In this capacity, he played a leading role in the design and implementation of Armstrong’s worldwide strategic planning process. His professional associations during his career included The Planning Forum, The Association for Corporate Growth, The Conference Board’s Council of Planning Executives, and The Profit Impact of Marketing Strategy Institute. He retired at the beginning of 1988 with 40 years of Armstrong service. He initiated, managed and financed in cooperation with The Lancaster County Historical Society a book “How Armstrong Floored America: The People Who Made It Happen, 1945-1995”. The book was published in August 2007 and authored by C. Eugene Moore. In community activities, George had served as president of the Boys and Girls Club of Lancaster, receiving The Bronze Keystone Award, Boys Club of America; additionally, as president of the Donegal Society; as president of the Hamilton Club; as regent of the Lancaster County Chapter of Pennsylvania Sons of Revolution; and as an elder at First Presbyterian Church of Lancaster where he had been a member since 1958. He has served on the boards of Lancaster Cleft Palate Clinic, Homestead Village Retirement Community, North Museum Corporation, and the Board of Directors, Alumni Association, University of Colorado, Boulder Campus. He was a guest lecturer at the University of Delaware Business School MBA classes, for many years, on the subject of strategic management in a multi-cultural corporation. He had been active as a member of the following organizations: The Lancaster County Historical Society, Rotary Club of Lancaster, Cliosophic Society, Lancaster Pirates, Lancaster Country Club, and the Military Officers Association of America. His interests and affiliations included United States politics, The Republican Party, Alpha Chi Omega, professional chemical fraternity; Pi Kappa Alpha, social fraternity; Clan Johnston/e in America; and The Association of Naval Aviation. Other interests included the United States Revolutionary and Civil Wars, English and Scottish History, and extensive United States, European and Asian Travel. Early vacations were travelling the United States with his sons and wife, and spending summers in Stone Harbor, New Jersey. After retirement, there was more travel with his wife and friends, spending winters in Palm Desert, California. His avocations include photography, golf, tennis and squash. George was an amateur genealogist with an emphasis on relating geographical, historical and economic events connected to his family’s ancestry dating back to the early 1400s. He had written narratives about numerous family members who immigrated to America before the Revolutionary War and up to the present time. A memorial service will take place on Saturday, September, 13, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 140 E. Orange Street, Lancaster, PA with the Reverend Dr. Donald W. Hackett officiating. The family will greet friends at the church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. A private family interment will be held in Greenwood Cemetery. Please omit flowers, Memorials in George’s name may be made to First Presbyterian Church Endowment Fund, 140 E. Orange Street, Lancaster, PA 17602, or Homestead Village Endowment Fund, P.O. Box 3227, Lancaster, PA 17604.

George F. Johnston

September 5, 2014