H. ALLAN (AL) JOHNSTON

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H. ALLAN (AL) JOHNSTON Peacefully, with family at his side, H. Allan (Al) Johnston died Saturday, September 11, 2004 in Deer Lodge Centre. Al was born in the original Winnipeg Childrens Hospital on November 20, 1919 the only child of Edward J. Johnston (died 1935) and Vera (Tod) (died 1949). He is survived by his beloved wife Margaret (Colven) and stepdaughter Dolores (Fonseca) Haggarty. (Of whose achievements he was extremely proud.) He will be sadly missed by five grandchildren, Elena, Diana, Jennifer, Christopher and Jeremy and seven great grandchildren. In addition, Al is survived by sisters-in-law Jean Mayfield (Los Angeles) and Marjorie Colven (Lindsay, ON.) and by sister and brother-in-law, Helena and Alex Conn (Burnaby, BC). Al is also survived by several cousins in Canada and the US. After graduating from Kelvin High School, Al joined the Queens Own Cameron Highlanders Reserve. After the Second World War was declared, he transferred to the Airforce where he trained as a Radar Technician. Based in England at various RAF stations, he was responsible for the Radar Unit, at that time a highly secretive British invention. When Al subsequently received an overseas posting to RAF base Greenwood, N.S., he remustered to Aircrew and graduated as a Radar Navigator; after, he returned to England where he eventually joined the 406 Lynx Night Fighter Squadron at Manston, England. Al served there until the end of the European War. It should also be noted that he and his pilot were mentioned in dispatches. Al volunteered for the Japanese Front, but the conflict ceased before he could remuster. After returning to Canada, Al participated in ferrying Lancaster aircraft across Canada to home bases. He was honourably discharged in 1946 to the General Reserve. Over his lifetime, Al maintained his military connection as a member of the Aircrew Association (U.K.) and the Airforce Association of Canada. He was a life member of the Wartime Pilots and Observers Association and an Associate Life Member of the Joint Veterans Housing Society. He was also a member of the St. James Legion Branch No. 4 where he enjoyed many Tuesday luncheons with the boys; he was a member of the Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans in Canada #283, a Founder Member of the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum (Brandon, MB) and a member in good standing of the Western Canada Aviation Museum. Al spent his career in the field of electronics, working in various capacities travelling from Thunder Bay to Victoria; he joined the Northwest Commercial Travellers Association in 1953 and remained a member throughout his life. As everyone knows, Al was an avid curler and spent many years sweeping rocks down the ice. For years he belonged to the West End club, curling out of the Thistle Curling Club. Later, he joined the Deer Lodge Curling Club; toward the end of his curling career, he curled with the Antlers group of seniors at Deer Lodge. Although Al grew up in Cresentwood, he spent most his adult life in St. James. He and Margaret enjoyed their home on Fidler Ave. in Silver Heights for almost fifty years before moving into the Courts of St. James. For the past four years, Al had been residing in Deer Lodge Centre suffering from the debilitating effects of Parkinsons Disease and other related illnesses. His final years and days were most difficult, but made more comfortable by the fact that his wife Margaret remained an almost daily companion until the moment he died. With that said, the family would like to extend deep appreciation to the staff at Deer Lodge Centre on Two South and Tower Seven for their care, kindness and support during Als final years. Also we would like to thank the DVA for their support towards his care. A private internment was held at St. Johns Cathedral Cemetery; Rev. Susan Van Dreser attended with immediate family. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Als memory to Ronald MacDonald House, 566 Bannatyne Ave., Winnipeg, MB R3A 0G7. Dearest Allie Without you, life has no meaning or purpose. Thank you for 52 wonderful years of marriage I will miss you forever Love, Margar Neil Bardal Inc. 949-2200

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 18, 2004