Virginia Johnston

Virginia Johnston

April 26, 2024 - September 20, 2008

Virginia Harshman Johnston, 94, died peacefully Saturday, Sept. 20, 2008. She lived her last year with her daughter, Judy, in Franklin Park, but was a longtime resident of Fredericktown, Washington County. She was born Oct. 29, 1913, in Millsboro, a daughter of the late Jacob A. Harshman and Annette Hill Harshman, and was the last of six children. She was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Millard (Meade) Johnston; sisters, Margaretta Daugherty and Luetta (Charles) Johnston; brothers, Weldon (Helen W.) Harshman, Leroy D. (Mabel) Harshman, M.D., and Joseph (Helen H.) Harshman; and daughter-in-law, Mary Watson Johnston. She is survived by her son, K. Thomas (Joan Daugherty) Johnston, of Fredericktown, Judy (partner Linda Cordisco) Johnston, of Franklin Park, and Candace (Alan) Daugherty, of Goose Creek, S.C.; grandchildren, Debra (Greg) Bandel, of Eighty Four, and Thomas Johnston, of Walla Walla, Wash.; stepgrandchildren, Diane Daugherty Hoy, of Waynesboro, Va., and Del Daugherty, of Moon; seven great-grandchildren; two stepgreat-grandchildren; nieces, Ruth Daugherty Piper, Jean Duncan Hawthorne and Lynn Moeller Grace; nephews, James Johnston and John T. Johnston; and numerous other relatives and friends she gathered during her long life. She was a longtime member of Mt. Zion Methodist Church of Fredericktown, even continuing her membership after she moved to the Ingomar area to be closer to her daughters. A brief stay in Goose Creek, S.C., followed before she returned to the Franklin Park area. She lived an amazingly long, healthy and joyful life. She was an avid reader consuming one to two novels a week, working crossword puzzles daily, and reading the newspaper from front to back. She enjoyed collecting antiques and loved flea markets, garage sales and the Antique Roadshow. She traveled to Europe, Ireland, Hawaii, traveled by car cross-country to California and all points in between. She loved conversation and joined in any lively discussion. For these and a thousand other reasons, her family and friends will greatly miss her. In accord with her wishes, there will be no viewing and she will be cremated. A memorial service will be planned at a later date. Interment will be private. Donations in her memory may be made to Mt. Zion Methodist Church, c/o Mrs. Joan Bane, 250 Hastings Road, Fredericktown, PA 15333.