Edward F. Johnston, Jr.

JOHNSTON, Edward F., Jr., 85, MILFORD, at Bangor, February 17, 2013. A memorial service will be held to celebrate his life at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 27, at St. James’ Episcopal Church, Old Town. Arrangements are in the care of Brookings-Smith Funeral Home, Bangor.

MILFORD – Edward F. Johnston, Jr., 85, died in Bangor on Feb. 17, 2013. He was born in Easton on Dec. 31, 1927, the son of Edward Franklin and Olive Arvesta (Stevens) Johnston.
    Edd resided in Easton, Fort Fairfield, Old Town, Searsport and Milford. He was educated in Easton, Fort Fairfield, University of Maine and Penn State. He lettered in basketball and baseball at Easton and Fort Fairfield, and was unanimously elected to the All-Aroostook basketball team 1944-45. Edd lettered at UMaine as baseball manager.
    At UMaine, Edd was a member of Phi Mu Delta social fraternity, Alpha Zeta honorary service fraternity and Phi Kappa Phi honorary society.
    He was a World War II U. S. Army veteran serving in the 88th Division in Italy as a radio operator. Edd was an Eagle Scout and served as assistant scoutmaster, scoutmaster and cubmaster.
    An Episcopalian, Edd served as treasurer, vestryman, junior warden, senior warden, delegate to diocesan convention, choir member, lay reader, reader, chalice bearer and Eucharistic minister. He compiled a history of St. James’ Church, Old Town and was chairman of the parish sesquicentennial celebration.
    As a Mason, Edd was a 55-year member, a past master, chaplain, and secretary of Eastern Frontier Lodge #112 AF&AM, Fort Fairfield, and a member of Star of the East Lodge #60 AF&AM, Old Town. He was also a 32nd degree Mason.
    Edd spent 37 years with the Maine Agricultural Experiment Station researching potato storage, handling and marketing. He taught statistics at UMaine for 22 years, retiring in 1991. As an emeritus, he compiled a history of the Agriculture & Resource Economics department.
    A longtime member of The Potato Association of America, he served as treasurer for 13 years, was the first archivist and compiled a history of the association. He was named Honorary Life Member in 1982.
    Edd’s primary hobby was genealogy and staying in contact with relatives and kinfolk. He loved “key-honking” and had been in every organized town in the state and more than half of the unorganized townships. His goal of traversing all the numbered highways in Maine was nearly completed.
    Edd is survived by his wife of 29 years, Jean Marie Boddy-Johnston of Milford; his children, Brent and wife, Mako, Matthew and wife, Karen, and Julie Johnston; his six grandchildren, Nick, Chris, and Kaity Johnston all of the Tampa Bay area of Florida, Brian, Neil and wife, Mandi, and Amanda Johnston of California; his sister, Celia Bonville of Connecticut; sisters-in-law, Inez Johnston of Florida, and Ginny Johnston of New York; several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
    He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Tim and Bob; brother-in-law, Bill Bonville; niece, Joan Johnston; and nephew, Ted Bonville.
    Well done, good and faithful servant.
    A memorial service will be held to celebrate Edd’s life at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 27, at St. James’ Episcopal Church, 132 Center St., Old Town. A reception will follow at the Buchanan Alumni House, One Alumni Place, Orono. Those who wish to remember Edd in a special way may make gifts in his memory to St. James’, P.O. Box 183, Old Town, ME 04468. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.brookingssmith.com.