Charles Houston Johnston

Funeral Services for Charles Houston Johnston, 86, of West Monroe, LA, will be held at 2:00 P.M., Monday, November 13, 2023, at New Chapel Hill Baptist Church with Rev. Clovis Sturdivant, Dr. Marty Black, and Dr. Charles “Chuck” Johnston officiating. Interment will follow in the Clark Springs Church Cemetery under the direction of Mulhearn Funeral Home in West Monroe.

On May 11, 1937, Charles Houston Johnston was born in Rayville, LA and he passed away on November 10, 2023, at his residence in West Monroe, LA, surrounded by his loving family.

Charles grew up in Archibald, just outside of Rayville on a small farm with two brothers and three sisters and he was the youngest of them. He was the son of a sharecropper and home maker. The farm he grew up on consisted of growing cotton, soybeans, and some cattle. Once he got to high school, he found a love for playing football.

In his early 20s after getting married he began a career at Entergy which then was called LP and L Louisiana power and light. He was a lineman for over 20 years then moved into an operator position at the Sterlington Power Plant until his retirement in the early 90s, where he got the nickname “old man" while working there. After retiring he did several things always staying busy but the most enjoyable thing he did was being a cattleman. He raised many head of cows with several friends over the years, a few being Ray Anding, H.T. Everritt, and Ronnie Massey. He also was the police juror of District B in Ouachita Parish during the 90s as well as the Constable for Ward 7. He also held the role of president of the Ouachita Parish Cattlemen’s Association and District chairman of the Louisiana Cattlemen’s Association of North Louisiana.

He served as a Deacon for many years at Cherry Ridge Baptist church, Clark Springs Baptist Church, First Baptist Church Calhoun, and New Chapel Hill Baptist church. Charles was a member of the Calhoun Civic Club, the Masonic Lodge of Eros, LA, and the Gideon’s of Ouachita Parish. He enjoyed many things in life from camping in Canton, TX with friends every year to going to Oak Grove to the sweet potato festival, even bailing hay on the hottest days of the year but what he enjoyed most was spending time with family and friends.

In the early 2000s on Friday nights during football season he always found a high school football game with Bob Harrell to attend, usually at OCS. He always had a strong and hard work ethic he instilled in many over the years. The Bible gives us hope to get through these trying days, in Psalm 34:18 it says, The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. 

He is preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Mittie Johnston; father and mother-in-law, Webb and Grace Roberts; two sisters, Mavis Crawford and Merlene Bailey; and two brothers, Royce Johnston and Bobby Johnston.

Mr. Johnston is survived by his wife, Helen R. Johnston; sons, Dr. Charles R. “Chuck” Johnston and wife, Melinda and Todd L. Johnston and wife, Paula; grandchildren, Chad Johnston and wife, Nicole, Molly Johnston Koonce and husband, Klay, and Tony Johnston; great-grandchildren, Ellie Koonce, Kynlee Koonce, Maebry Koonce, Charlie Johnston, and Erin Johnston; sister, Mary Nielson; and numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

Pallbearers will be Chad Johnston, Greg Studer, Keith Studer, Klay Koonce, William Guyton, Anthony Johnston, Dewayne Richardson, and Wayne Strickland.

Visitation will be held from 1:00 P.M. until service time on Monday at the church.

Memorials may be made to the Gideon’s International or the New Chapel Hill Baptist Church Building Fund.

We would like to give special thanks to his niece, Sheila Hales, for her love and support and to Allegiance Hospice for their care and support as well.