Parker N. Johnstone

Parker N. Johnstone, 90, of Hamden, Connecticut, passed away on Saturday, January 27th, 2024, at Cornwall Manor, Cornwall PA following a long illness. He is survived by his wife, Helen K. (Gloyd/Presnell) Johnstone, and was preceded in death by his late wife, Phyllis J. (Layton) Johnstone.
Born in New Haven, CT on March16th, 1933, he was the son of the late Frederic L. and Martha H. (Noa) Johnstone. Parker was sole survivor to his younger sister, Joyce Eldrid Johnstone. After graduating from Hamden High School, he attended Yale University in New Haven, CT where he graduated with a Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering.
Due to Parker's having been a US Air Force ROTC college student, after graduating from Yale, he taught at the Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, CO. It was during this time that he met his first wife, Phyllis Jean Layton, and were married in 1955. Following completion of his tour in Colorado Springs, he joined AT&T where he served a lifetime career after which he retired in the late 1980's. He attained a Masters degree from New York University during his career with AT&T.
He and Phyllis had five sons: Dr. Frederic L. Johnstone with wife, Suzanne of Puyallup, WA, Steven A. Johnstone of Reading, PA, David L. Johnstone (recently deceased) with partner, Ken, of Newark, NJ, Douglas B. Johnstone of Springfield, VT, and Thomas P. Johnstone of West Yorkshire, UK, with wife Robin. Eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren from his marriage to Phyllis survive.
Following the death of Phyllis, Parker met Helen K. (Gloyd) Presnell in Madison, NJ and they married in 1988. Surviving in addition to Helen are four step-children, William F. Presnell of Fountain Hills, AZ, Jonathan Presnell of Ephrata, PA, Thomas Presnell of Mine Hills, NJ, and Katherine (Presnell) Barrabee of San Diego, CA.
Combined between both marriages, a total of sixteen grandchildren and four great grand-children survive.
Parker was an active volunteer in the Rescue Squad and Fire departments in Madison, NJ and in Brevard, NC. He was involved with critical Church repairs and activities in Madison NJ and also served on the church maintenance team in Brevard, NC. He was a board member and treasurer for the Transylvania Christian Ministry in Brevard, NC; Connestee Falls Association of Brevard, NC; and Cornwall Manor, Cornwall, PA.
He was a supporting advisor of Boy Scout Explorer Post #268 in Berkeley Heights, NJ and eventually led an Explorer Post in that community which focused on canoeing, trail maintenance, back packing, and camping.
Parker was also active in Christian ministries for disaster recovery, leading or working on teams executing repairs from various storm scenarios in the eastern half of the USA.
Parker supported his sons' interests in music and was in regular attendance at many of their concerts and musical events, both in Berkeley Heights and in Madison, NJ.
Parker was quite a handyman and, throughout his life, developed skills in woodworking making several pieces of furniture some of which were donated to the Lebanon County Schools near Cornwall, PA, for industrial shop and engineering curriculum usage. He had a very clever mind for fashioning various repairs and modifications to many objects worth saving and of continued use. He also worked on interior remodeling and renovation in the family's homes in Connecticut and New Jersey.
Parker enjoyed traveling and being on the road. Summer vacations with Phyllis and the boys were often spent visiting family in Missouri and Illinois. Later, when married to Helen, the two traveled parts of the U.S. and Europe to visit family and to tour places of interest to them. They also were particularly fond of Bermuda.
A private service will be held at the convenience of the family. Kreamer Funeral Home and Crematory, Annville, is handling arrangements.