Johnston Sr., Charles Edward

Charles Edward Johnston Sr., 73, of Narrows, Va., went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, January 6, 2011, at his home, surrounded by loved ones. A lifelong resident of Giles County, he was born on April 9, 1937, and was the son of the late Frederick Lee and India Webb Johnston.

A retired employee of Celanese Acetate in Narrows with over 35 years of service, he was also a 35-year veteran and former Chief of the Narrows Volunteer Fire Department, where he held numerous leadership positions, retiring as Assistant Chief. A loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and brother, he will be dearly missed by his family and all who knew him.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Celosia Ann Johnston, of Narrows; a son, Charles Edward Johnston Jr. and wife, Kendra, of Princeton, W.Va.; a stepson, who was more like a son, Robert Doran Rucker and wife, Kelly, of Narrows; a stepson, Garland Hammond Rucker, of Ironto; two daughters, Sally Jean Good and husband, Nelson, of Chester, Va., and Sarah Virginia Blackwell and husband, Doug, of Yankton, S.D.; a granddaughter, who was raised by him, Alexis Dakota Wilson, of Narrows; three stepdaughters, Deborah Blankenship and husband, Sammy, of Narrows, Sharon Lowery and husband, Bill, of Narrows, and Paula Annette Rucker, of Waiteville, W.Va.; 14 grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; a brother, David Johnston and wife, Mary Ellen, of Narrows; three sisters, Martha Jane Aliff, of Oak Hill, W.Va., Mary Lee Tabor and husband, Jim, of Narrows, and Josephine Blaker, of Narrows; several nieces, nephews and cousins; and many special friends, especially his second family at the Narrows Volunteer Fire Department.

Funeral Services will be held 2 p.m. on Sunday, January 9, 2011, at the Narrows Volunteer Fire Department Activities Building with the Rev. Sally Good officiating. Special ceremonies will be conducted by the Fire Department. The family will receive friends at Riffe’s Funeral Service in Narrows on Saturday, January 8, 2011, from 6 to 9 p.m.

The family requests that flowers be omitted, and that memorial contributions be made instead to the Narrows Volunteer Fire Department, 133 Center Street, Narrows, Va. 24124.

Riffe’s Funeral Service in Narrows is serving the Johnston family. Online condolence messages to the family can be sent to www.riffes.com.