JOHNSTONS HONORED on 60th ANNIVERSARY
The Mount Ayr Country Club was the scene November 21, of a 60th wedding Anniversary celebration in
honor of Horace A. and Martha J. JOHNSTON. Hosts and hostesses for the occasion were the four sons,
Bob of Chandler, Ariz., Dick of Colorado Springs, Colo., Tim and wife Alice of Fort Madison [IA] and
Bill and wife, Alice Mae, of Bedford [IA]. Assisting were the grand children, Andy JOHNSTON, wife
Joyce, and children, Julie, Mike and Susie of Kansas City, Mo.; Ann BURTON and husband, Gary of
Westminster, Calif.; and Ted Johnston of Fort Madison [IA]. The honored couple has six grandchildren
and six great-grandchildren. Over 225 guests registered and were served from a tea table decorated
in fall colors. Members of the Diagonal Priscilla Club and a Mount Ayr bridge club, of which Mrs.
JOHNSTON is a member, assisted in the serving. Presented to those who attended were favors which
included a wedding picture, a recent photograph, and the following poem written by a friend, Mrs.
Bessie PERRY of Mount Ayr:
A dapper man was Horace
And while looking for a wife
Found the idea one, a young girl,
Martha Jane to be his wife.They accepted the Ford agency,
A most rewarding job.
The first arrival, a 1916 model,
Was later christened, Bob. In 1920 Dick arrived;
It seemed they couldn’t win;
The Dr. smiled and announced,
Well, “she’s” a boy again.
The 1921 model was unique,
The lines were sleek and trim
Not a Fairlane, Pinto, or Cougar.
The JOHNSTONS called him “Tim.” No use for frills or ruffles;
A hope for a girl was nil,
Because in 1923 -
The stork delivered Bill. The models all came stripped down
With lots of power and speed,
More take-off and go power
Than any LTD.
The seat covers made by Martha
Were perfectly square
Made of white fluffy flannel
The best found anywhere. You both deserve a medal,
The Thunderbirds have flown;
You steered to all to manhood
And now the “runabouts” have grown.
SOURCE: genealogical clippings and photograph albums of Norma G. (FOLAND) BECKER and
Mrs. Andy (Joyce) Johnston
Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, 2007
A photograph of Horace A. and Martha Jane JOHNSTON's
four sons is included in Ringgold County's Photograph Pages,
contributed by Mrs. Andy (Joyce) JOHNSTON, along with other JOHNSTON family photographs.
H.A. Horace Andrew JOHNSTON
and Martha Jane (YOUNG) JOHNSTON's obituaries are included with
Ringgold County obituary pages, as are the obituaries for sons,
Robert L. "Bob" JOHNSTON, and
Richard Young "Dick" JOHNSTON. |
