Calvin Johnston

Odessa, FL Calvin H. Johnston, age 77, passed on to the Lord on Monday, July 20, 2009 at Kindred Hospital in Tampa, FL after a lengthy illness. Born January 26, 1932 in the Town of Cambria, he was the son of the late Harold F. Johnston of Ransomville and the late Ella Bohnstadt Steadman of Cambria. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War and served the country he loved aboard submarines and aircraft carriers from 1951 until his honorable discharge in 1970. Calvin received the Korean War Medal; Armed Forces Expedition Medal for Service in Lebanon; National Defense Medal; Meritorious Commendation Ribbon and five Good Conduct Medals. One of his shipmates aboard his last submarine, the U.S.S. Sturgeon, recently published a book titled "Stealth Boat" about their missions during the Cold War. The author, Gannon McHale, included Chief of the Boat Johnston in numerous chapters. After retirement from the Navy, Calvin joined General Dynamics/Electric Boat Company, builder of submarines in Groton, Connecticut. He was a contract analyst for twenty years, retiring in 1992. He is survived by his wife, Rita (Lamaspi); two sons, Michael (Roxanne) Johnston of Concord, NC and Mark Johnston of Oakdale, CT; his grandchildren, Amanda Johnston of Cocoa, FL and James Ralston of Concord, NC; a sister, Carol Steblein of Lockport; two sisters in law, Gloria Slyster of Odessa, FL and Barbara Magliarditi of Niagara Falls; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Friends may call at HARDISON FUNERAL HOME, 3648 Ransomville Road, Ransomville on Saturday, July 25, from 10 am to 12 noon. Funeral services will begin at 12:00 noon in the funeral home with the Rev. Alexander Knowles officiating. Burial with Military Honors will follow in North Ridge Cemetery, Church Rd., Town of Cambria. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, PO Box 3049, Syracuse, NY 13270 or to a charity of one's choice.