Linda Johnston Obituary

Linda Lee Johnston

Oct 2, 1946 - Sep 30, 2022

Castalia

Linda Lee Johnston, 75, who loved to be called Gigi (Great Grandma) departed this earthly world to be with the Lord, early morning Friday, Sept. 30, 2022.

"We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from body, and to be present with the Lord"- 2 Corinthians 5:8

Linda was born Oct. 2, 1946, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Sandusky, to James and Mary (Hoover) Fleming. She graduated from Perkins High School in 1965. Linda was a devoted Christian and a lifelong volunteer. She was a fighter and survivor of Polycystic Kidney Disease and was thankful every day for her kidney transplant in 2001, often referring to her new kidney as Emmanuel. She was certain God was always with her. If Linda could not be found at Ohio Veterans Home, she was serving her community, church, or teaching her best friend and great-grandson, Maxx, the ropes of shopping on a budget.

Linda began volunteering at OVH in 1980 as junior AMVETS advisor which led into many different roles within Ohio Veterans Home until she retired in 2011. Linda's interest and concern for veterans evolved from her father's service to our country during World War II and she treated every veteran as it was him.

At the time of retirement, Linda served as OVH Volunteer Coordinator and continued to actively volunteer until the pandemic. She worked tirelessly on recruiting volunteers to assist with veteran events. Linda also started the volunteer advisory committee in 1986. Through Linda's hard work and excellent organizational skills, Ohio Veterans Home obtained millions of dollars for our local veterans. Linda was a lifelong member of AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary Post 17 and many other veterans' organizations. She served as the local president for six terms and was instrumental in organizing the Ohio 13th District Auxiliary. Linda served in every office on the local, district, state, and national levels. She served as National President for AMVETS Auxiliary in 1999-2000. Linda dedicated many volunteer hours downtown at the Little Red Wagon (United Way popcorn wagon). She also assisted special events at OVH and was known as "One Card Linda" when calling bingo.

Linda is survived by her son, James M. (Lynnette Kromer) Kimberlin; stepsons, David, Ronald, Richard, and Eric Johnston; grandchildren, Megan and James W. Kimberlin, Noah Downing, Brandon Scott, Joseph Kimberlin II, and Courtney, Emily, Cindy, Jillian, and Ava Johnston; and great-grandchildren, Maxxwell, Eli, Brantley, Preston, Kylin, Kennedy, and Korra.

She was preceded in death by her parents; three sisters, Rhonda Shepard, Susan Finley, and Jackie Alley; brother, Michael Fleming; husband, Earl Johnston; and son, Joseph L. Kimberlin.

A celebration of life will be 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21, 2022, at Columbus Avenue United Methodist Church in the Memorial Hall, 2401 Columbus Ave., Sandusky, Ohio, 44870.

In lieu of floral arrangements, Linda requested donations in her memory be made to OVH-VAC, Inc. 3416 Columbus Ave., Sandusky, Ohio, 44870. Toft Funeral Home & Crematory, 2001 Columbus Ave. Sandusky, is handling arrangements. Condolences may be made to the family by visiting toftfuneralhome.com.