Walter Johnston

With great sadness comes news of the passing of longtime Vallecito Lake resident, Walter Lee Johnston (Johnny). He was born in Columbus, Ohio on August 2, 1928 and died on December 13, 2014 at his home at Vallecito Lake, Co. He joined the Navy in 1946, marrying Leola Paradowski in 1951. In 1957, he and his wife started North American Technical Institute in Albuquerque, New Mexico, which they owned and operated from 1957 through 1976, before moving to Vallecito Lake near Bayfield, Co. and starting Colorado Mountain Homes. He had so many different talents and interests and strengths and attributes, it is hard to capture the essence of him. He LOVED FAMILY. He enjoyed fishing, gardening, teaching, scrabble, blew it, pinochle, the Navy, reading, writing, learning, building, studying, hiking, people, playing poker with friends and family, telling a good story, taking pictures, watching the Broncos play, and so much more. Everything and everybody brings reminders of him, roses, a firm hand shake, a smile, a joke, a hug, a song, and so much more. He is survived by his loving wife, Leola, daughters Laura Lee and husband Tim Harper, Susie and husband Brent Tanner, sons Steve Johnston and wife Bonnie, Larry Johnston and wife Mary Ann, grandchildren, Cheri, Mary, John, James, Peter, Amy, Ken, Jodi, Michael, Jessie and Brandon, and great grandchildren, Ben, Mackenzie, Lucas, Vincent, Abby, Zachery, Elizabeth, Jonathan, Aiden. His great granddaughter, Autumn Marie Johnston, preceded him in death.