Claudius \u201cClaude\u201d Edmond Johnston Jr., better known as \u201cJr.\u201d and \u201cPawPaw,\u201d passed away peacefully at the Joan and Howard Woltz Hospice Home in Dobson on June 5. He was 93 years old. Mr. Johnston was born June 25, 1932, in Wilkes County to Claude Edmond Johnston Sr. and Bessie Revina Roland. He was one of 11 siblings. Jr. was preceded in death by his parents as well as his 10 siblings.<\/p>\n
In 1950, he married Joanne Richardson and remained married to her until her death. Jr. was drafted into the United States Army in 1953. He received his basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C. He served during the Korean Conflict at Fort Ladd Air Force Base in Fairbanks, Alaska. After being honorably discharged from the Army, he and Joanne left Alaska and returned to Wilkes County. They started their family there, built a home, and entered the poultry business, raising chickens for Tam Hutchinson, Chesterfield, Holly Farms and Tyson, a business that spanned 60 years. In addition to raising poultry, he was the owner\/operator of C.E. Johnston Landscaping for 30 years.<\/p>\n
He was a member of Millers Creek Baptist Church for 57 years, serving as a Deacon, Sunday School Teacher, and Grounds Committee member. He played an active role in the Millers Creek 4-H program in earlier years, mentoring youth in the community. Jr. was a devout Christian. His church family was very important to him. He was a hard worker and an honorable man\u2014a devoted husband, father, brother, uncle, grandfather and great-grandfather.<\/p>\n
Jr. always had a willing hand and a caring, generous heart for his neighbors, especially in times of need. Whether scraping snow from a driveway, plowing a garden, or offering advice to a fellow poultry farmer, he was the man to call when someone needed a neighbor\u2019s hand.<\/p>\n
Surviving family members include his son, David (Catherine) Johnston of Millers Creek, daughters, Gwenn (the late Charles Adams) of Millers Creek, Lynne (Ellis) Hayes of Indian Trail, and Claudene (the late Wayne) Barnes of Millers Creek; grandchildren, Charles C. (Brandy) Adams of Wilkesboro, Joshua (Brianna) Adams of Mint Hill, George K. Hayes of Indian Trail, Scott (April) Johnson of North Wilkesboro and Victoria Johnson of North Wilkesboro; great-grandchildren, Nathan Johnson of North Wilkesboro, Hannah (Dawson) Faw of North Wilkesboro and Elijah Adams of Mint Hill.<\/p>\n
He was preceded in death by his wife, Joanne; daughter, Sherry Johnson; and granddaughter, Rebecca Johnson.<\/p>\n
The family would like to express their love and gratitude to the many individuals and groups who provided loving care, support, prayers, encouragement, and compassion throughout the years. His church family, especially the Heart-to-Heart Sunday School Class, Kernersville VA Health Center, Brian Britt, MD, Audiology and vision doctors and assistants, Prosthetics Dept. OT and PT department. Woltz Hospice Home, Alex Waite DO, Alyissa Buckheimer, Md., Mountain Valley Hospice Home Care, Chondra Hendrix RN, Kayla Hollar, Ms. Bulong Thao and Sharon Wingler, CNAs, Dr. Doreen Day Holloway D.C. and staff Teresa and Dawn,; Charles Calloway for keeping dad supplied with his favorite summer fruit through the years – watermelon.<\/p>\n
Funeral service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, June 11, 2026, at Miller Funeral Chapel with Pastor Emeritus Jim Gore and Pastor Shannon Critcher presiding over the service. Burial with military honors by Veterans of Foreign Wars Honor Guard Post 1142 and escorted by the American Legion Riders will follow at Mountlawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at Miller Funeral Service from 12:30 p.m. until 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Woltz Hospice Home, 945 Zephyr Road, Dobson, N.C., 27017 or to Millers Creek Baptist Church Building & Grounds Fund, 5100 Boone Trail, Millers Creek, N.C., 28651. Miller Funeral Service is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be made to www.millerfuneralservice.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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