Earle Johnston
In Memory of
Earle W.
Johnston
1927 - 2022
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Obituary for Earle W. Johnston

Earle W.  Johnston
EARLE W. JOHNSTON
FORT FAIRFIELD & PRESQUE ISLE

Fort Fairfield & Presque Isle – Earle W. Johnston, 95, husband of Joyce (Osborne) Johnston, passed away Monday afternoon, May 30, 2022 at his Presque Isle home, following a brief illness. He was born April 12, 1927 in Fort Fairfield, the son of Walter E. and Mildred (Murphy) Johnston.

He was a graduate of the Fort Fairfield High School, Class of 1944 and attended Bryant-Stratton Business College, Boston. Earle served his country with the United States Navy during World War II aboard the Heavy Cruiser USS Oregon City in the Pacific Theater, attaining the rank of Seaman 2nd Class. Earle was instrumental in helping to bring cable television to the County, establishing Johnston Cable in Fort Fairfield in 1960. He also worked for Paragon Cable until his retirement. Earle was a life member of the Fort Fairfield VFW Paul Lockhart Post No. 6187, a Master Mason with the former Fort Fairfield Eastern Frontier Masonic Lodge, currently affiliated with the Trinity Masonic Lodge No. 130, Presque Isle, the York Rite Freemasonry Garfield Chapter, Caribou, the Anna Temple Shrine, the Knights Templar Freemasonry, the Fort Fairfield American Legion Walter Lovely Post No. 27. Earle served on the Fort Fairfield Community General Hospital Guild, the Fort Fairfield Town Council, and the Maine Harness Racing Commission, appointed by Governor John Reed, where he served as Presiding Judge, and was subsequently reappointed for two additional terms.

In addition to his parents, Earle was predeceased his twin brother and sister-in-law, Merle and Mable Johnston; one sister, Phyllis Schaefer; one son-in-law, Greg Smith.

Earle is survived by his wife of nearly seventy years, Joyce O. Johnston of Presque Isle; one daughter, Stephanie “Taffy” Smith of St. Augustine, FL; two grandchildren, Zach Smith and his wife Alisha of Presque Isle, Kylan Smith of New York, NY; three great grandchildren, Lydia Smith, Camrynn Smith and Gregory Herschel Smith, all of Presque Isle; several nieces and nephews, including a special niece Anne (Ashby) Theriault and her husband Rosaire Jr. of Fort Fairfield.

A graveside service with military honors will take place at a later date at Riverside Cemetery, Fort Fairfield. Those who wish may contribute in memory of Mr. Johnston to the Shiners Hospital for Children, Attn: Processing Center, P.O. Box 947765, Atlanta, GA 30394. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Giberson-Dorsey Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 144 Main Street, Fort Fairfield. Online condolence may be expressed at www.gibersondorseyfunerlahome.com .