Donald Eugene Johnston

Donald E. Johnston, a resident of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, died Thursday, November 8, 2018 at St. John Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Don was born October 18, 1928 in Mt. Vernon, Illinois to Edward G. and Jewel B. Johnston and spent his early school years there. The family moved to Murfreesboro, Tennessee in 1941 and subsequently to Columbia, South Carolina and Fort Benning, Georgia. On completion of high school Don attended the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida. On graduating U of M Magna Cum Laude he received the Wall Street Journal Award and a University of Miami Fellowship. He continued his studies while working at the University’s Bureau of Business and Economics Research. After completing his MBA he was employed by Phillips Petroleum Company in the Comptroller’s Department. Don was a member of the Company’s original Electronics Survey Group that selected and recommended the first centralized general purpose large scale computer for Phillips Petroleum Company. Don and the other members of the group formed the cadre of the Company’s new Computing Department (now IT). Don continued his career with Phillips’ new computing/IT technology, managing the development of new business applications and years later the maintenance and conversion of the previously developed business applications to a new generation of computers. With the advent of real time computing capabilities Don managed and marketed Phillips’ real time operating systems. As the IT organizational functions and responsibilities evolved and shifted to the operating and staff organizations Don returned to the Comptroller’s Department as manager of computer accounting applications from which he retired in 1985. In 1960 Don married Nancy Duncan of Dewey, Oklahoma, daughter of Ray and Vivian Duncan. Don and Nancy established their home in Bartlesville and continued to live there to the present time. They have two children, Marilyn A. McDonald of Pasadena, California and Barbara G. Kowalczyk of Bartlesville, Oklahoma and five grandchildren, Kyle and Erin McDonald and Jonathan, Jewel Ann and Jonah Kowalczyk. Don loved working in the yard and maintaining his pool so the family could enjoy it all summer. He was an avid reader of the Wall Street Journal and history books. He loved spending time with his family and eating his wife’s chocolate cake. Don enjoyed making excellent homemade donuts that were unforgettable. Don is survived by his wife, two daughters, Marilyn’s husband, Mark McDonald of Pasadena, California, five grandchildren, sister in law, Doris Johnston of Pleasant Hill, California and nieces and nephews. His parents and two brothers George Johnston of Atlanta, Georgia and Robert Johnston of Pleasant Hill, California preceded him in death. Visitation will be held Friday, November 16, 2018 from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm. A funeral service will be held at 2 P.M., Saturday, November 17, 2018 at Stumpff Funeral Home Chapel in Bartlesville, Oklahoma with interment at Memorial Park Cemetery. Services will be held under the direction of Stumpff Funeral Home & Crematory. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association.

Donald Eugene Johnston

October 18, 1928 - November 8, 2018