Roderick David Johnston “Rod”, age 71, of Burnsville, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, July 9th, 2024 at his home surrounded by his loving family.
A native of Long Island, NY he was a son of the late Roderick William and Joanne Cloud Johnston. Rod first and foremost loved the Lord. He was a passionate, husband, father, son and brother who continually expressed his love and affection to those closest to him.
He enjoyed spending time with his kids, sharing his wisdom, knowledge, silly faces and dry sense of humor.
He never accepted no for an answer and always found a solution to the problem before him.
After leaving his hometown on Long Island Rod attended multiple universities, Paul Smiths College in Upstate NY, University of Idaho and University of Washington. Rod received undergraduate and graduate degrees in forestry as well as engineering. He used these 3 degrees to make major contributions to the forestry, logging and development industries in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. Rod worked on multiple logging crews, locating and building roads in remote areas of the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. He played a major role in the construction of the Seattle Bus Tunnels, Microsofts Headquarters and Costco Headquarters. This gave Rod the opportunity to travel. In Haiti he assisted in the rebuilding of roads after the earthquake disaster. In Guyana, South America he had a major role in locating and constructing a road to access a gold mine operation site.
Rod had many incredible adventures and he enjoyed telling about them. to name a few, He was chased by a Kodiak Bear, surrounded by wolves and breached by a sperm whale. He carried an Alaskan Native with a broken leg several miles out of the forest to their pickup site, saving his life. He also pulled a woman out of her burning car in Seattle, WA.
One passion Rod pursued his entire life was music, He was an avid player of the banjo, guitar and drums. He enjoyed playing and listening to music, operating the soundboard at church and writing songs. He founded a non-profit and held many banjo clinics throughout the country to share and spread his love of bluegrass music. The love of music was major aspect growing up in the Johnston Household and is shared by his wife and children. Rod was also a talented artist and author. He Painted several oil paintings of ships and tugs. He wrote and published 9 books which ranged from road construction to Christian adventure fiction novels.
He led a tremendous life of hard work, adventure, love and a unique sense of humor. But most important to him was his love for Jesus Christ. He raised his children to love the Lord and taught them to build the foundation of their lives on Christ. He was driven to share the gospel with anyone that God placed in his path.
Left to cherish his memories are his loving wife of 40yrs, Evelyn Marie Johnston. Children, Christina Ann Johnston, Roderick William “RW” (Stephanie) Johnston, David Ray (Amber) Johnston, and Gregory Allen Johnston. Grandchildren: Roderick Wesson Johnston, Steven Wyatt Johnston, Wrenley Marie Johnston and Malakai Nels Johnston all of North Carolina. Sister. LeeAnn Angels and a brother, Eric Alan Johnston both of Long Island, NY.
A celebration of life will be held at Brookstone Church 90 Griffee Road Weaverville, NC 28787 August 1, 2024 at 1 p.m.
The family would like to say a very special thank you to Granite Insurance of Granite Falls, NC for their help and support during this difficult time.
Memorial donations may be made in Rod’s name to Brookstone Church 90 Griffee Road, Weaverville, NC 28787 or to Medi-Home Hospice at PO Box 1357, Newland, NC 28657.
