C. Richard Johnston

C. Richard Johnston, 74, of 13178 N. Wayland Rd., Meadville, died Tuesday, February 6, 2007 at his residence.

He was born in Meadville April 22, 1932, a son of Charles D. and Helen L. Braymer Johnston.  He married Olive B. Davis October 1, 1955.

He was a 1949 graduate of Meadville High School and attended Allegheny College.  Mr. Johnston founded Meadville Precision Tool and Mold June 1, 1961 which became C & J Precision Plastics, Inc. in 1977.  In 1979, he purchased Heatrex and later sold the company in 1986.

Mr. Johnston was very involved in professional, civic, and social organizations throughout the years.  He was appointed to the Comprehensive Employment Training Act advisory board in 1980, was a member of the Labor Management Council of PA, board member since 1983 of the local chapter of the PA Private Industry Council and served as chairman for several years, member of the Crawford County Economic Advisory Council since 1987, serving as vice chairman, and committeeman on the finance and revolving loan fund committee, member of the board of the Meadville Area Industrial Commission since 1988, former member of the National Tooling and Machining Assoc. (NTMA) and Specialized Plastic Engineers, and past president of the Northwest Chapter of the NTMA.

In 1973, he was named to the Waltenbaugh Scholarship award selection committee, member of the Vern Mead Assoc. which formed in 1973, trustee of Edinboro University since 1981 serving as vice chairman in 1989 and chairman in 1991, former committeeman for East Mead Twp. for several years, chairman of the corporate division of the Western Crawford County chapter of the American Heart Assoc. in 1988, member of the Crawford County Coalition for Progress, and member of the Crawford County Vocational-Technical School advisory board.  In 1989, C & J was the recipient of the Winslow Award.

Mr. Johnston was also a member of the Crawford Masonic Lodge 234, Zem Zem Shrine Temple, Erie, Crawford County Shrine Club, Kismet Grotto, Scottish Rite Bodies, Crawford County Motor Patrol, Zem Zem Motorized Units, Mid-Atlantic Assoc. of Shrine Motor Corps., Iroquois Club, Meadville Country Club, Taylor Hose Club, National Rifle Assoc., and Flying Feather Shooting Preserve of Guys Mills.

He especially enjoyed hunting, fishing, and annual trips to Alaska.

Survivors, in addition to his wife Olie of 51 years, include his mother, Helen L. Johnston of Meadville; 4 daughters, Rusty Gordon of Conneaut Lake, Diann Frampton and her husband Dennis of Meadville, Sandra Jean Hurban and her husband Jack of Cochranton, and Sheryl Johnston of Meadville; a brother, James R. Johnston and his wife Kate of Meadville; 8 grandchildren, Chad Hurban and his wife Jill, Adam Hurban and his wife Jessica, Amber Hurban, Shannon Hurban, Kelly Frampton, Adam Frampton, Michael Gordon and his wife Linda, and David Gordon; 2 great-grandchildren, Hailey and McKenzie Hurban; and 2 nephews and 1 niece.  He was preceded in death by his father.

Services will be private and at the convenience of the family.

Interment will be in Kiser Hill Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Masonic Building Fund, 17112 Parkview Dr., Meadville, PA 16335, Shriner’s Hospital for Children, 1645 W. 8th St., Erie, PA 16505, or Hospice of Crawford County, 448 Pine St., Meadville, PA 16335.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Robert W. Waid Funeral Home, 581 Chestnut St., Meadville.