Richard (“Dick”) Boyd Johnston, 88, of Jefferson, passed away peacefully at home on July 3, surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Damariscotta, the youngest child of Orla and Mildred Johnston.
Dick spent his early years in Damariscotta, with the Pierce family who lived across the street, and attending grades 1-5 at the Castner School. He loved baseball, and when he was in the 5th grade, he played on the 8th grade team as shortstop. There was a skating rink in back of where Yellowfront is today, and he became a great skater.
In 1939, Dick’s father saw a 600-acre farm for sale, and figured with three sons still at home, he should buy it so that they would learn the value of hard work. So they moved to the Bunker Hill Road in Jefferson.
Dick attended grade school and one year of high school in Jefferson, at times riding to school in a converted black hearse with wooden seats running the long way in the back. He played baseball for the Jefferson High School team, and loved the fact that, as a two-year high school, they played Lincoln Academy and beat them!
Dick went on to attend Lincoln Academy, where he was president of his class every year, elected “Sir Lincoln” by his classmates, and won the Achievement Cup. He played baseball, as a pitcher and center-fielder, and was captain of the team his senior year. Most significantly, he met the girl of his dreams at Lincoln. Gladys Ayer went to a school “social” with another boy but Dick took her home, and they have been together ever since, marrying on Dec. 14, 1948.
Always a prankster, while in high school, Dick and his friend and classmate George Cole played a joke on Principal Nelson Bailey. On Halloween night, Dick and George used their two cars to haul a huge rock down the hill and placed it behind the Principal’s car. The next day the rock was moved to the front of the school, where it sits today with a plaque.
After high school, the farm became a way of life for Dick, with gardening, raising cattle, tending the apple orchards, and lumbering. For the first 15 years, they worked in the woods with horses.
Dick and his brother, Erland, ran “Johnston Brothers” for many years, working in the woods in the winter and hot topping driveways and doing roadwork in the summer. They never had to advertise, because they did such a good job, their work just led to more work. Dick retired in 2004 at the age of 76.
Farming was always a big part of his life, and there was a huge sense of pride to prepare meals that were all products of the farm – including beef, eggs, chicken, milk, apples, vegetables year-round from freezing and canning, and the list goes on. The family even made their own butter. Many people will remember buying apples from Johnston Brothers, especially Northern Spies, either at the farm or out on Route 1 in Waldoboro. Farming and owning a business required working seven days a week. This year, Dick was not able to put in his big garden, but he helped plant two big tubs right outside the sun room.
Dick loved old cars, and during his later years owned two of them – first, a 1928 Ford Model A (made the same year he was born), and then a 1931 Chevrolet Sedan, exactly like the one he drove to school. His family recreated a picture of him sitting on the front bumper in the same location near Lincoln Academy as a 1946 photo.
Being involved in the community was also a big part of Dick’s life. He was president of the Jefferson Farmer’s Mutual Insurance Company and served on the Jefferson Appeals Board for many years. He was a member of the Bunker Hill Grange #554 for over 60 years, and he and Gladys received a community service award from the Grange in 2005. Once the Grange dissolved, he was active in the Bunker Hill Community Club.
Dick was predeceased by all of his siblings: brothers, Burton (at the age of 2), Donald, Leon and Erland; and sister, Marion Wright.
He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Gladys Ayer Johnston; sons, Rick and wife Genne of Richmond, Va., and Mark and wife Judy of Manchester; daughter, Laurie Bouchard and husband Jeff of Jefferson; grandsons, Sean Johnston and wife Melanie of Burke, Va., and Dustin Bouchard of Jefferson; granddaughters, Katie Johnston of Newport News, Va., and Elizabeth Johnston of Augusta; along with numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Sat., July 9 at the Bunker Hill Baptist Church in Jefferson, with a luncheon to follow in the Ladies Aid Hall next door. There will be a private burial in the Jones/Clark Cemetery in Jefferson.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing to do so may make a memorial contribution in his name to either the Bunker Hill Baptist Church, c/o Mark Johnston, Treasurer, 244 Kerns Hill Rd., Manchester, ME 04351; or “Double A Scholarship Fund for Athletics and the Arts” at Lincoln Academy, 81 Academy Hill, Newcastle, ME 04553.
Condolences and messages for the family may be expressed by visiting www.StrongHancock.com.
Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home, 612 Main St., Damariscotta.