Obituary of Kathleen Johnston

Kathleen T. Johnston Obituary

Kathleen Ruth Tiftickjian Johnston (Kate) of Mt. Pleasant, SC, died on November 18, 2019, with her children around her.  She was born on June 27,1924, in Buffalo, NY, and was the daughter of Dickran S. Tiftickjian and Emily Dickinson Tiftickjian of Buffalo. Kathleen attended the Buffalo Seminary, and graduated Maxima Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Mt. Holyoke College with dual majors in Latin and Physics. Kate was scheduled to study Latin in Rome, but the outbreak of World War
II prevented that trip.

She worked in various aircraft and chemical industries in the Buffalo area to support the war effort. She was proud of her work with the Dupont Chemical laboratory in the application of nylon
for wartime use.

She married Murray Greer Johnston, also of Buffalo, NY, in June, 1948, and moved with her family to Statesville, NC, in 1955. She was president and member of various PTA organizations, a substitute teacher and tutor, and a member of the Statesville School Board for several years in the 1960s and
1970s; she served in other civic and professional organizations in Statesville. She also worked in the chemistry divisions of local textile and manufacturing companies while raising her family.
 

In 1978, she moved with her husband Murray to Kiawah Island, SC, where she spent many happy years. She later relocated to Mt. Pleasant, where she was a member of St. Andrew’s Anglican Church.
Kathleen enjoyed playing golf, and in her 40s became a Life Master in Bridge, a game she played until the end of her life.  She traveled extensively in the Middle East with her husband Murray in the 1970s, and was an avid reader until her final few days. She loved the mountains of Upstate South Carolina, and was happy to celebrate her 95th birthday there in June.

She could fix anything, she never met a stray animal she didn’t love, and she enjoyed board games and jigsaw puzzles, especially with her children and grandchildren. She was a dedicated mathematician and loved to tell her family that “Differential equations are fun!”
Kathleen was preceded in death by her beloved husband Murray Greer Johnston, her brothers John and David Tiftickjian, and her parents. She is survived by five children: Jeffrey D. Johnston (Kristy) of Mt. Pleasant; Melissa G. Johnston (Jim Gleason) of Lexington, KY; Peter A. Johnston of Mt. Pleasant; Emily G. Johnston (Elliott Barrow) of Mt. Pleasant; Kathleen J. Allen (William) of Taylors, SC; twelve grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
 

The family will hold a memorial service on December 30, 2019 at 1:00 PM at St. Andrews Anglican Church in Mt. Pleasant, SC.  Remembrances can be made to your local Habitat for Humanity, SPCA or any other animal welfare organization.

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