Norman D Johnston
December 19, 1930 -
November 28, 2021

Visitation

Service 

December 1, 2021
1:30 pm

Interment

Obituary

Norman D Johnston passed away on November 28, 2021, at his residence in Fayetteville, Tennessee. He was born on a farm in Possum Hollow in the Mimosa community on December 19, 1930. He was the son of Bright Johnston, a farmer, and Janie Johnston. He was preceded in death by his father, his mother, and his wife of 38 years, Lois Rucker Johnston. He is survived by his son, Randall Johnston and his wife, Phyllis, and their daughter, Hannah, all of Fayetteville. He is also survived by his friend, Judy Calkins, of Lewisburg.

Norman enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1949. He worked many years as a radar technician before working at the Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC) Propulsion Wind Tunnel Facility in Tullahoma, Tennessee. After retiring in 1987, he returned to the modest life of a farmer he had cherished from an early age.

One of Norman’s most firmly held beliefs was the value of an education. He adamantly believed that an education equips a person with the necessary tools to control his or her own destiny by allowing them to reach independence. He instilled these beliefs into his son, Randall, and his granddaughter, Hannah.

He also coined many tried-and-true sayings that he enjoyed sharing with others. While they were candid and to-the-point, repeating them was not generally the wisest thing a man could do. 

In his spare time, he enjoyed fishing and, in his own words, “watching the bulb”— or watching television. He also cooked his own breakfast most mornings and took great pride in doing so. Above all, he had an extensive understanding of the true value of the dollar and, fittingly, was quite a resourceful handyman. Many homemade trinkets and gadgets filled his home and sheds.

Mr. Johnston will be laid to rest at Rose Hill Cemetery with a graveside service at 1:30 pm on Wednesday, December 1, 2021. There will be no visitation prior to the service.

Higgins Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Norman D Johnston.

Video Services

2 Comments

  1. Jim & Kathy Shook Brown

    Randall, Phyllis and Hannah,
    I am sorry for your loss. May you find peace and comfort in the good memories of your Dad and Granddaddy. Our prayers are with you all at this time.

    Reply
  2. Anita Johnson

    Randy, I’m so sorry to hear of Norman’s passing. He truly loved Mimosa community. He enjoyed working the take out line at the annual October bar—b-que. I enjoyed watching him sit outside enjoying the day as I passed by. He will be missed. I’m sorry I will be unable to attend the graveside service as I have the flu but will be thinking of you all.

    Reply

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Memories

2 Comments

  1. Jim & Kathy Shook Brown

    Randall, Phyllis and Hannah,
    I am sorry for your loss. May you find peace and comfort in the good memories of your Dad and Granddaddy. Our prayers are with you all at this time.

    Reply
  2. Anita Johnson

    Randy, I’m so sorry to hear of Norman’s passing. He truly loved Mimosa community. He enjoyed working the take out line at the annual October bar—b-que. I enjoyed watching him sit outside enjoying the day as I passed by. He will be missed. I’m sorry I will be unable to attend the graveside service as I have the flu but will be thinking of you all.

    Reply

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