Henry Harold Johnston, 93, of McComb died peacefully July 14, 2025 at Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center.

Visitation is 9-11 a.m. Thursday, July 24 at Hartman-Jones Funeral Home of McComb with services there at 11 a.m. The Rev. Alton Foster will officiate. Interment will be at Adams United Methodist Church cemetery in the Auburn community.

Henry was born in Amite County on March 24, 1932, the fourth of 12 children born to Henry Rawls and Luessie Carraway Johnston of Smithdale.

Henry was raised with a work ethic that he carried with him throughout  his life. With an engineering mind that never received a degree, he used his skills with a minimal of materials. He seemed to love figuring out a way to use everything, no matter the condition.

Henry joined the Air Force in the 1940s and served his country for over 20 years until his retirement in 1970. He quit school in the 11th grade, but got his GED after enterting the military.

Over his many years in the military, he served his nation in over 17 countries in the communications division. His service took him to very remote areas, where sometimes he and two or three more were the only ones stationed there. He always loved sharing his experiences in the military.

After his retirement from the military he returned to his roots of Amite County. He worked for Croft Metals for a number of years before joining the workforce at SMRMC in the maintenance department, where he worked for over 18 years, retiring in 1995.

Retirement wasn't in his vocabulary. He came home and worked a cattle farm and enjoyed having a garden every year until his health no longer allowed him to do so.

He always loved music. He played guitar in the service and was in a bluegrass band with his brother Robert, writing some of the songs. He kept playing until about three years ago.

Henry was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Thelma Perkins Johnston; his wife, Anna Debiasi Johnston; a son, Stephen Johnston; and three sisters, Mattie Newman, Betty Smith and Nevelyn Allred.

He is survived by one son, Paul Johnston of Wallasey, England; one grandson, Robert Johnston of London, England; two granddaughters, Amy Farley of North Wales and Sophie Johnston of Wallasey; three great-granddaughters, Billie, Georgie and CeCe; five brothers, Robert, Thomas Earl (Mary Alyce), Guy, Clayton and Douglas; three sisters, Louise Brumfield, Etta Merle Hux and Lexine (Jimmy) Deer.

Pallbearers will be James Newman, Mike Johnston, Kyle Hux, Howard Allred, Jeff Deer and Butch Boyd.