Lasting Memories

Jean D. Johnston
March 20, 1926-Aug. 30, 2025
Portola Valley, California
Submitted by Jan Johnston-Tyler

On August 30, 2025 Wilna 'Jean' (Davis) Johnston passed away... Jean was 99 years old, and was born in Indiana, where she was raised by her mother, with her older sister Alice, and her cousin Edna. She attended University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana, and majored in Mathematics where she met Robert H. Johnston while working at the university's radio station. They were married soon after college, and moved to Berwyn outside of Chicago. Jean's wanderlust grabbed hold of her early, and she and Bob began to travel to Mexico, the Caribbean, and the Midwest.

With a school aged child, Ted, and a toddler, Janet, in tow, Jean and Bob moved to Palo Alto, California in 1961, where they lived for nearly 40 years. Jean was an active volunteer in the PTA, Girl Scouts, CAR (Abilities United), school fundraisers, and later PEO. Jean and Bob, with old and new friends, traveled extensively to Europe, Hawaii, the Caribbean, North Africa, Egypt, and Jordan.

Later, Jean returned to school and became a travel agent, and her wanderlust got even stronger adding Central and South America, Hong Kong, China, Japan, India and back to Europe and Hawaii several times. She also was an adjunct professor at Foothill College in travel. When she was at home, she hosted myriad dinner parties, BBQ swim parties, and tour guided friends and family from out of state to the beauty of California. Bob got her interested in backpacking, and they spent a few summers exploring the backcountry of the Sierras.

Jean shared her love with her grandchildren, William (the Galapagos, Tanzania) Marci (London, New York), and Marshal (Costa Rica), and enjoyed yearly trips to Yosemite with her extended family.

For the last 20 years of her life, she resided at the Sequoias in Portola Valley and continued to enjoy socializing and travel, and continued to participate in PEO.

Jean's nickname of Pearl Planner was well-deserved, and she leaves a legacy of unbridled curiosity, love and loyalty in all who knew her. She is survived by her son, Ted, her daughter, Jan, and her grandchildren William, Marci, and Marshal.