Obituaries

Gaither Cornelius Johnston

Photo of Gaither Cornelius Johnston
Dr. GAITHER CORNELIUS JOHNSTON JR. died Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010. Dr. Johnston was born Dec. 12, 1922. He is preceded in death by his parents, Gaither Cornelius Johnson Sr. and Mary Chloe Reiner Johnston, and his grandson, Richard Stephen Johnston Jr. After growing up in McRae, Ark., Gaither attended Hendrix College and graduated from the University of Arkansas School of Medical Sciences. Upon completing his degree, Gaither enlisted in the United States Navy and served as a medical doctor during World War II. In 1948, he began his practice in general medicine in Lake Village, Ark., where he resided for 19 years. In 1968, Dr. Johnston entered the Harvard School of Medicine to begin his specialty in ophthalmology. After graduating with his degree in ophthalmology from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in 1972, he established his new practice in Hot Springs, Ark. He continued his work in Hot Springs until he retired from medicine in 1992. Dr. Johnston was on the boards of the First National Bank in Harrison, the Simmons First Bank of South Arkansas and the Arkansas Bank and Trust in Hot Springs. He served a year as president of the Arkansas Medical Association Division of Ophthalmology and a year as chief of staff at St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center. He was a long time member of the Rotary Club. For many years he was on the board of the Arkansas Rural Endowment Commission, a position his father had previously held. Also inherited from his father was Johnston Farms. Gaither ran the farm the remainder of his adult life as a true gentleman farmer. Gaither is survived by his wife of 63 years, Doris Owens Johnston; daughter, Mary Chris Johnston Burrow and her husband, Chris; son Richard Stephen Johnston Sr. and his wife, Marcia; and Rebecca Johnston Womack and her husband, John. He is also survived by his grandchildren Jessica Burrow, Colley Burrow, and his wife Sarah, Stuart Womack, Dr. Bryan Womack, Mary Elizabeth Womack Mach and her husband, Jonathan, Miller Johnston; and great-grandchildren Anna Claire, Connor, Bryce and Brooks Burrow. A memorial service will be held 11 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2010, at Roller-Chenal Funeral Home (501) 224-8300. A private family burial will precede the service. Memorials may be made to Arkansas Children's Hospital, 1 Children's Way, Little Rock, Ark., 72202, or to Parkway Village Memorial Fund, 14300 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock, Ark., 72211. Online guest book: www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/chenal.

Published September 13, 2010

Upcoming Events