O.G. Johnston

Services for O.G. Johnston, 85, of Gladewater, will be held on Tuesday, December 4, 2012, at 2 P.M. at First Baptist Church with Reverend B.F. Risinger and Reverend Bailey Harris officiating. Burial will be in Rosedale Cemetery. Born on May 30, 1927 in Gladewater to Charles Bert and Mary Pearle Shirey Johnston, he was a great-great-grandson of John K. Armstrong, who settled in Gladewater in 1844. He died on Thursday, November 29, 2012. A 1944 graduate of Gladewater High School, he was a member of the GHS band under the direction of Alto Tatum and an all-state drummer for four years. \ In 1948, he received his Bachelor"s degree from Baylor University and his Master"s degree in 1951. Also, he received counselor certification from Stephen F. Austin and an Administration Certificate from East Texas State University. O.G. began his teaching career at Union Grove teaching 7th and 8th grade math. In 1956, he began teaching 7th and 8th grade math in the Gladewater Independent School District. His math group won first in state in number sense for two years. He enjoyed coaching 7th grade football. After teaching several years, he became high school counselor. He held this position for several years and was in charge of the National Honor Society. He became principal at Weldon Middle School and then served as Assistant Superintendent for sixteen years and Superintendent of the Gladewater Independent School District for five years. In 1991, he retired after forty years of service. On June 20, 1953, he married Georgia Ruth White in Clarksville, Arkansas. He was a lifelong member of the First Baptist Church and ordained as a deacon in 1956. In 2007, he was given a certificate for 65+ years of service in the church. In the early 1950s, he began directing the youth choir and also directed the adult choir when needed. He served as chairman of the deacons and on various church committees. O.G. was a city council member and served as mayor of Gladewater for several years. He was a member of the Rotary Club where he was a Paul Harris fellow. He was elected as a board member of Kilgore College. He served as board chairman for several years. Soon after retirement he and his wife became Master Gardeners. They helped at Texas A&M Plant Research Center in Overton. He is survived by his wife, Georgia Ruth Johnston of Gladewater; daughter, Carol Ann Jonston of Carlisle, Pennsylvania;; daughter and son-in-law, Donna Johnston and Joe Niehus of Sherman; two grandchildren, Katie and Karlie Niehus; sister-in-law, Barbara Johnston of Gladewater; and several nieces and nephews. If so desired, memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 1444, Gladewater, Texas 75647. The family will receive friends from 1 to 2 P.M. at the First Baptist Church on Tuesday, December 4, 2012. He will be sorely missed as a former superintendent of schools, an outstanding civic leader, and a member of a pioneer Gladewater family.