Peter Henry Johnston

Peter Henry Johnston July 22, 1945 - August 24, 2026 Peter Henry Johnston, 81, of Kingsburg, California, went home to be with the Lord and Savior he spent much of his life studying, teaching, and preaching about on August 24, 2026, surrounded by his wife, Donna, and loved ones. Peter was born July 22, 1945, in Akron, Ohio, to Walter Thomas Johnston and Anne Omer Trevathan. His early years were not always easy, and at just 17 years old, Peter began making his own way in the world by enlisting in the United States Coast Guard on October 2, 1962. He served four years on active duty, earning the National Defense Service Medal, and completed his service at the U.S. Coast Guard Training Center in Groton, Connecticut, before transferring to the Coast Guard Reserve in 1966. California would become home. On July 23, 1967, one day after Peter's 22nd birthday, he married Donna Lee Arnold at the Silver Belle Chapel in Reno, Nevada. Together, Peter and Donna shared 59 years of marriage, raised a family, weathered life's many seasons, and eventually settled in Kingsburg in the early 2000s. Peter's working life was as varied as the places life took him. Over the years he worked in construction and the building trades, residential inspection and assessment, maintenance, stationary engineering, water and wastewater treatment, and other jobs that drew upon his ability to understand how things worked and how to fix them. His career eventually took him into service with the State of California, where he worked at several facilities throughout the state. Peter retired around 2011 from Delano State Prison, where he served as a wastewater supervisor. But the work that mattered most deeply to Peter was not measured by a job title. Peter had a lifelong passion for the Bible and an extraordinary appetite for understanding Scripture. His bookshelves were filled from floor to ceiling with biblical commentaries, concordances, expository works, and reference materials. He studied the history and context of Scripture and dug into the Greek and Hebrew roots of words in his desire to understand not simply what the Bible said, but what it meant. That passion eventually led Peter into ministry. While working and raising his family, he pursued biblical and seminary studies and later helped establish Mountain Bible Fellowship, where he served as pastor for several years. His years behind a pulpit eventually ended, but his desire to study Scripture and share his faith never did. For Peter, knowing the Bible was never meant to be merely an academic pursuit. He wanted what he had learned and believed to make a difference in someone else's life. Among the moments he treasured most were leading members of his own family to faith in Jesus Christ, including his daughter-in-law Kristal and Donna's parents, June and Bruce Young, whom Peter later had the privilege of baptizing. Peter also knew how to pour himself completely into the things that interested him. He loved working with his hands and could turn a hobby into a project of remarkable detail. One memorable example was the elaborate HO-scale model railroad he built on a ping-pong table, complete with a miniature village, mountains, tunnels, scenery, and painstakingly painted figures. He enjoyed motorcycles and ATVs, trips into the mountains, and, during his sons' younger years, even skateboarding alongside them. As the years passed, being a grandfather brought out another side of Peter. Family dinners, game nights, conversations, and simply having those he loved nearby became increasingly precious. The ordinary moments of being Dad and Grandpa became some of life's best ones. Peter was a man of strong convictions who could be stubborn, independent, and determined. He worked hard, studied deeply, loved a good story and a good laugh, and approached the things he cared about wholeheartedly. Even as his body began to fail him in later years, his sense of humor remained. When someone asked Peter how he was doing, his familiar answer was often accompanied by a smile: "If I was doing any better, I couldn't possibly stand it." Peter was preceded in death by his parents, Walter Thomas Johnston and Anne Omer Trevathan; his sisters, Joann, Barbara, and Evelyn; and his daughter, Nicole Jones. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Donna; his daughter, Spring Covington; his sons, Andrew (Kristine) Johnston and John (Kristal) Johnston; as well as his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and extended family. Peter spent a lifetime studying the promise of eternal life that he found in Scripture and sharing that hope with others. His family now takes comfort in the faith Peter himself preached: that death is not the end, and that he is home with the Savior he trusted. A graveside service honoring Peter's life will be held Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at Kingsburg Cemetery, 12782 E. Clarkson Avenue, Kingsburg, California. Immediately following the service, family and friends are invited to gather and celebrate Peter's life at 2250 Plumas Street, Kingsburg, California. Services have been entrusted to Salser & Dillard Creighton Chapel. Memorial Tributes and condolences may be offered by logging onto www.salseranddillard.com.