Funeral services for Jodie E. Johnston, 99, of Moore, Oklahoma formerly of Ninnekah, will be held Thursday, March 13, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. in the Ferguson Funeral Home Chapel with Hosie “Spook” Whitener officiating.
Jodie E. Johnston was born September 25, 1914 in Little River County, Arkansas to Sterling and Zora (Bearden) Johnston. He died Saturday, March 8, 2014 in Oklahoma City.
Jodie came to Oklahoma as a teenager with his family and they settled near Ninnekah. He attended and graduated from Ninnekah High School. After graduation, he worked in the oilfield for a short time, then joined the United States Army on January 13, 1942, during WWII and served until December 2, 1945. He had been employed as a tire store manager, as a billboard installer, and then returned to the oilfield, where he retired in the mid 70’s. After retirement, he owned and operated a lawn care service until he was 97 years old.
He was preceded in death by both parents, Sterling and Zora (Bearden) Johnston; brothers and their spouses, Fay and Ethel Johnston, Julius “Jude” and Thelma Johnston; sisters and their spouses, Eva and John Schoolfield, Grace and Irvin Githens, Ethel and Raymond Whitener, Blanche and Albert Whitener, Anna and Gene Gage, and Mildred and Joe Blanchard.
Survivors include his wife, Teka Johnston of the home; daughters and sons-in-law, Sheila and Gary Schank of Oklahoma City, Jodie Marie and Dave Antonelli of Salmon, Idaho; grandchildren, Dr. Bob Schank and Steve Schank; and a great-grandson, Ian Schank.
Interment will be in Fairlawn Cemetery under the direction of Ferguson Funeral Home.