Dewitt Obits

Dr. William Johnston

Dr. William Lee Johnston, 95 of Bloomington, IL passed away 7:30 A.M. February 19, 2017 at Advocate BroMenn Medical Center, Normal, IL.
 
Memorial services will be 11 AM, Friday, February 24, 2017 at Calvary United Methodist Church, Normal, IL with Rev. Randy Reese officiating. Private graveside services were held at Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Kenney, IL with Military Honors. Calvert Funeral Home, Clinton, IL is in charge of arrangements.
 
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Calvary United Methodist Church, 1700 Towanda Ave. Normal, IL 61761.
 
William was born February 3, 1922 in Clinton, IL the son of William Henry and Ora Lee (Ford) Johnston. He married Bette Jean Daily December 24, 1943.
 
Survivors include his wife of 73 years: Bette Johnston, Bloomington, IL; son: William Grant (Debbie) Johnston, Schoolcraft, MI; grandson: William Douglas Johnston and granddaughter: Laura Ann (Greg) Hunt; great-grandson, Carter Hunt, all of Schoolcraft, MI; several nieces and nephews also survive.
 
He was preceded in death by his parents and daughter, Mary Beth Johnston.
 
William graduated from Kenney Community High School in 1939 and Illinois State University with a BS in 1946, attended the Trinity College of Music, London, England in 1946, the University of Illinois with an MS in 1948 and an Ed. D. in 1966. He was also a veteran of the U.S. Army Air Force – 759th AAF Band from March 3, 1943 to March 16, 1946 and served with the 9th Air Force in the European Theater for a period of 15 months.
 
His memberships include: Music Educators National Conference; Illinois Music Education Association; National Council of State Supervisors of Music (Chairman); Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development; Society of Consumer Professionals in Business; Association for Consumer Research; National Coalition for Consumer Education; American Council on Consumer Interests; and several other music and consumer education associations. Dr. Johnston was also a member of Phi Mu Alpha, honorary music fraternity; Phi Beta Mu, honorary bandmasters fraternity and the American School Band Directors Association.
 
He was a professional musician in Bloomington from 1940 to 1943, playing saxophone with the “Hank” Messer dance band and in the Bloomington Municipal Band. From 1948 to 1957, he was the Director of Instrumental and Vocal Music in Plainfield, IL; Assistant Professor of Music at the University of Wisconsin-Madison from 1957 to 1961; State Supervisor of Music Education, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction with the State of Illinois from 1961 to 1971; Director of Curriculum Services, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, State of Illinois, 1965 to 1971; Director of Consumer Education, New Jersey State Department of Education 1971 to 1977; Adjunct Professor of Curriculum and Instruction, Rutgers University 1972 to 1976; Professor of Consumer Studies, Director of the Center for Consumer Services and Director of the National Consumer Internship Program at Oklahoma State University 1977 to 1987 and Professor Emeritus of Consumer Studies since 1987.