David "Dave" Alexander Johnston

It is with great sadness that we announce that David (“Dave”) Alexander Johnston passed away peacefully in his bed at Langley Lodge Thursday morning November 15th at the age of 89.

Dave was born in1929 in Vancouver to parents Reba Alexandra and Goldie Hillhouse Johnston (deceased) and is survived by: his loving wife of 62 years Janice Olivia Johnston (nee Lewis); his 3 children: Halsey Johnston; Judi Skolovy (Tom); Chuck Johnston (Eleanor), his 7 grandchildren: Krista Johnston (Rob), Leah Castellarin (Jessi), Danielle Johnston (Dwain), Jaime Knapton (Jordan), Kelsey McLaughlin (Blair), David Knapton (Kylee), Jasmine Johnston; and his 5 great-grandchildren: Bentley McLaughlin; Hunter and Isabella Castellarin; and Arthur and Lilly Chaisson.

Dave grew up in Kerrisdale, and early on he played soccer, baseball, studied Judo and drafting, and enjoyed travelling to Buccaneer Bay and boating around Thormanby Is. Secret Cove, Smugglers Cove on the Sunshine Coast of BC. Dave introduced boating activities to his wife, children, and family friends. This enjoyment for the great outdoors soon extended to skiing, hiking, tennis, camping, fishing, sight-seeing, Island-hopping, and beach-going.

With his family first attitude, Dave renovated a larger family home and steadily rose from salesman to independent business owner/manufacturers agent, to custom equipment manufacturer/distributor. Dave pioneered industrial cleaning/waste-water recycling for environmentally sensitive industries around the Vancouver waterfront, heavy industries, and Resource sectors of BC. Dave enjoyed travelling throughout BC for work and for pleasure and often combined both with his young family excursions.

Later, Dave moved his business to Port Kells where he truly fit into the pioneering Kells family history, where he enjoyed being close to his daughter/serviceman son-in-law and young family living in Langley, where it was closer to work for his son living in Mission, where he could ride to work with his son living in Vancouver, and where he enjoyed working along side his family until the age of 75. Truly a great plan.

Dave told interesting and entertaining life stories throughout his career and at every family gathering with impeccable flair for timing and humour. Dave was a loving husband; great father, father-in-law, grandfather, great-grandfather; a fearless business partner; thoughtful employer; and a terrific friend and neighbour, who will always remain in our hearts and forever be a guiding light to his family.

The family wishes to thank the wonderful staff of Langley Lodge and Renaissance for being so caring and comforting, Dave’s and Jan’s life long friends for their great joy and friendships, and all those who assisted Dave and Jan with good company, story-telling, current events, and with remaining close together in extended care, despite the mobility challenges they have faced in their golden years.

A family life well lived.

You are invited to leave a personal message of condolence for the family.