David Lewis Johnston

David Lewis Johnston, 83, local restaurateur of Columbia City, died peacefully in the company of family at 9:25 a.m. Saturday, October 25, 2025, at his home.

Born March 27, 1942, in Warsaw, Indiana, he was a son of the late Orval D. and Aletha B. (Beiswanger) Johnston. Growing up in Warsaw, he graduated from Warsaw High School in 1960. During his high school years, Dave began working for the Penguin Point restaurant franchise, beginning his career-long passion for the food service business.

On June 4, 1961, he married Carolyn L. Moore, beginning their 52-year journey together and raising two sons. That same year, Dave accepted the management position at the Columbia City Penguin Point, making Columbia City their new home.

In July 1971, Dave bought The Nook restaurant in downtown Columbia City. The couple grew the business into a well-known, storied small restaurant serving their renowned coney dogs. Taking their inspiration from Coney Island, NY, they had a hand-painted mural of the Coney Island roller coaster painted on the interior wall of their restaurant. Carolyn died on November 7, 2013. Dave continued to run the business along with his daughter-in-law, Shanna, until July 2024, when the restaurant closed and Dave officially retired.

Dave's success in his chosen work stemmed mainly from his passion for serving others and for getting to know them on a deeper level. Always having a quest for knowledge, Dave learned about his many regular customers, what they did professionally, and how they did it. Endearing to many, Dave developed a multigenerational business where the children and their children became regular customers.

Outside of his 10-to-12-hour days at the restaurant, Dave enjoyed traveling, visiting all 50 states. During his travels, he always sought out locally owned and operated restaurants, learning their unique styles. He enjoyed taking cruises with his wife, venturing throughout the Caribbean and Hawaii. In more recent years, he took a cruise to Alaska together with his sister Ginny. Last summer he traveled to Denver by train to visit with granddaughters and great grandchildren.

He enjoyed playing board games with opponents of all ages, especially his grandkids. Dave was an active participant in all of his family activities and outings. He occasionally ventured to the area casinos. Inheriting a cat, he soon became endeared to them, having two others in his later years.

He is survived by his sons, David "Lance" (Brenda) Johnston of Zephyrhills, FL, and Daniel (Shanna) Johnston of Columbia City; grandchildren Ashley (Daniel) Davis of Columbia City, Levi Johnston of Rockland, ME, Lydia (Mitch) Ruter of Denver, CO, Amy (Dan Hursey) Johnston of Albion, and Linzi Melchor of Denver, CO; great-grandchildren, Milo Johnston of Johnson City, TN, Walker Davis of Columbia City, Xaia Melchor of Dever, CO, Jesse and Cora Hursey of Albion, Adalyn and Desmond Ruter of Denver, CO; sisters, Rosalind (Lynn) Morey of Richmond and Virginia "Ginny" Hermansen of Salem, OR, and brothers, Gaylord (Sandy) Johnston of Warsaw and Dallas (Karen) Johnston of Elkhart.

A casual Celebration of Life service will be at 3 p.m., Sunday (Nov 2nd) at Smith & Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City. Burial is at the Greenhill Cemetery. Visitation is from 11:30 a.m. until the service Sunday at the funeral home.

Memorials in Dave's honor may be made to B.A.B.E. of Whitley County or the Humane Society of Whitley County.