Herbert Lee Johnston

Mr. Herbert Lee Johnston, 85, passed away Thursday, February 3, 2011, at Carolinas Medical Center-NorthEast in Concord. A memorial service is scheduled for 2:00 pm Wednesday, February 9, 2011, at First United Methodist Church in China Grove. Rev. George Yates will officiate. A reception will follow the service to greet friends. There will be an entombment service with military honors at 11:00 am Wednesday, February 9, 2011, at the Salisbury National Cemetery. Mr. Johnston was born February 3, 1926 in Rowan County. He was a son of the late L. Guy Johnston and Lillian Eller Johnston. Mr. Johnston graduated from China Grove High School and went directly into the U.S. Navy serving in the Atlantic and Pacific theaters in World War II. After returning home, he worked for the Salisbury Post newspaper for 18 years and later retired from the purchasing department at Cabarrus Memorial Hospital in 1987. He had a real love for old classic and muscle cars and owned many over the years. He helped organize the Corvette Club of North Carolina early in the sixties and served as president for many years. At the time of his death, he still owned his prized 1962 Corvette and 1923 Model-T Ford and still drove them to cruise-ins locally. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Duwan Johnston and Harry Johnston and one sister, Rebecca Cranford. Mr. Johnston is survived by his wife of Annie Mae Westmoreland Johnston, and number of nieces and nephews. Four of his nephews who shared his love for cars and went with him to shows and cruise-ins are Andrew Morrison, Taylor Deyton, Casey Grande and Keevan Johnston. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, 110 West Church Street, China Grove, NC 28023 or Faithful Friends of Salisbury, 322 East Fisher Street, Salisbury, NC 28144.