Joseph J. Johnston
Joseph J. Johnston passed away peacefully on May 8, 2011.
Joe was born in Los Angeles, CA, on January 25, 1916. He was raised in Taft, CA. He graduated from UC Berkeley in 1939 with a Petroleum Engineering degree. He joined the design team at the famed Skunk Works at Lockheed which designed the P-38 airplane.
He married his wife, Genevieve Sweeney, on March 2, 1946 in Perris, CA, before reporting to the USS Collett as Engineering Officer. After his discharge, he and Genevieve moved to Hollywood, where Joe found employment in the special effects department at Universal Studios.
He found his true calling in the oil industry and was hired by the Aramco oil company. After working in the engineering and production areas, he finished his career as the Secretary of the Corporation and the General Manager of the U.S. offices.
He retired in 1982 to Newport Beach where, after many happy years together, his beloved wife Genevieve passed away on December 22, 2001. Joe, a passionate and excellent golfer, was a longtime member of Newport Beach Country Club.
He is survived by his sister, Margaret Wangberg, sisters-in-law, nieces, and nephews.
Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, May 20, 2011 at Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Newport Beach, CA.
Published in the Los Angeles Times on May 17, 2011.