On March 25, 2021, Samuel R Johnston left this world for his Heavenly Home.  He was a great son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, and friend. Sam was born in Rose Hill, VA to Roy M. and Lois Johnston. Sam and Mildred were married on June 20, 1953. He entered the United States Air Force (USAF) after High School and after his technical training, he went to Korea, where he fought in the Korean War.  Sam went far north into Pyongyang, the current capital of North Korea.  While serving in the USAF he was based in West Virginia, California, Maine, Florida, and Virginia. In 1968, he left his family and served a year in Vietnam outside of Da Nang in a location know as Monkey Mountain.  Following his safe return from Vietnam he was based in Florida and then Virginia where he retired from the USAF in 1970.  Sam then worked in the food industry till his retirement and he and Mildred made their home in Hampton Virginia.  Sam served as a Deacon, Treasurer, and Sunday School Teacher with Langley Baptist Church.

Sam was preceded in death by his sons, Michael and Wayne Johnston and his sibling, Davis Johnston. He is survived by his loving wife Mildred J. Johnston; his sister Carrie Juaneva Seale, children, Willene Mira and Curtis Johnston (Debbie); grandchildren Lori Rodriguez-Howe, Lisa Mira-Florio, Christopher Johnston, Joseph A Mira Jr., Melanie Olmstead, Matthew Johnston, Samantha Bower, Alley Johnston; great-grandchildren, Steven Rodriguez, Brian Olmstead, Celeste Olmstead, Anthony Florio, Hannah Mira, Sarah Mira, and Ayla Bower.

The family will receive friends in the chapel mausoleum at Parklawn Memorial Park in Hampton, VA on Friday, April 2, 2021 from 10-11am. A funeral service, officiated by his grandson, Pastor Joseph A. Mira Jr., will take place at 11am in the chapel mausoleum. Interment with military honors will follow in Parklawn Memorial Park.

Arrangements are by R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home.