Johnny Johnston

1935 - 2017

Johnny Johnston
June 5, 1935 - August 4, 2017
Resident of Felton, CA
With his wife Ola by his side, Johnny Louis Doyle Johnston Jr. left this world to be with the Lord on August 4, 2017. The second of five children, Johnny was born in Beaumont, Texas on June 5, 1935 by Margarite Bojens and John Louis Doyle Johnston. Johnny attended Milby high school in Houston Texas where he met the love of his life, Ola B. Wilson. He finished high school and enlisted into the Marines where he was stationed in San Diego. Upon his completion from the Marines, at age 21, Johnny gave his life to Jesus Christ and was born again.
Soon after, he married Ola B. on September 10, 1957 and together they moved to East Texas where Johnny attended East Texas Bible College. With their first born son, Johnny and Ola moved to Southern California where Johnny became a full time pastor. After pastoring for several years in Wilmington and Huntington Beach, Johnny received a job at Cetec Electronics where he eventually was promoted and became the president of the company. In 1978 Johnny and Ola moved to Santa Cruz, California with their four children. Johnny and Ola built a home in Felton which allowed them to begin a 40 year ministry in Santa Cruz County.
They opened their home to many people. Not only did they welcome people to live with them, but Johnny started a home bible study that anyone was welcome to attend. The bible study grew to become Calvary Chapel Santa Cruz. After an illness, Johnny stepped down as head pastor and as President of Cetec. He later went to work for the Yellow Pages as a sales manager for fifteen years. He helped start a bible study at work and the group that attended soon became known as the "God Squad". During that time he also was an assistant pastor in San Jose. After retiring from YP he became an assistant pastor at Calvary Chapel Santa Cruz in 2000. It didn't matter what job Johnny had, his relationship with God always came first. He lived the faith and was respected and loved by all who knew him.
Johnny lit up the room with his kind presence, funny jokes, and infectious laugh. He finished strong, continuing to point everyone to Christ up until the very end. Johnny is survived by his wife Ola, being one month shy of 60 years of marriage, his sister MargaretAnn and brother in law Mike, his brother Eddie and sister in law Lilo, his children and grandchildren, son John Mark Johnston, Christine Charon, mother of, James Johnston, Jenny Johnston, Rebecca and Scott Sanborn, Alicia Ross, mother of, Nicklas Johnston, Mikala Johnston, Olivia Johnston, son David Johnston (Lynette) parents of, Ashley and Kevin Utile, Johnny Johnston, David and Amy Johnston, Mark Johnston, his daughter Stephanie O'Brien (Sean) parents of, Devon O'Brien, Sean Jackson O'Brien, Jordan O'Brien, his son Andrew Johnston (Laura), seven great grandsons with another on the way and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents and his sisters, Doylene and Mary Katherine.
A celebration of Johnny Johnston's life will be held on September 9 at 1:00pm at Regeneration Church in Scotts Valley. Please join us in the remembrance of his life. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Alzheimer's Association or a Calvary Chapel of your choice.


View the online memorial for Johnny Johnston