Johnston L. Anthony

Johnston (John) L. Anthony departed this life on February 2, 2024, two weeks before his 91st birthday, at Heather Hills Care Community, Chardon, Ohio, after a very lengthy battle with dementia.

John was born to Byron and Susan Neil Anthony on a farm located between North Point and Hamilton, Pennsylvania, on February 18, 1933.

He attended Punxsutawney High School and on June 30, 1950 joined the Pennsylvania National Guard.  The Guard was activated for training with the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict.  He trained at Camp Atterbury, Indiana, Fort Bragg, North Carolina and Fort Riley, Kansas before being deployed to Germany for a year.

On September 18, 1951 before leaving for Germany, he and Emogene (Jean) Hamilton, whom he had known since the second grade, were married. Their marriage has lasted for 72 years.

Upon returning from Germany and discharged from active duty, he and Jean moved to Youngstown, Ohio where he obtained work with the General Fireproofing Co. building fighter planes.  He enrolled in Youngstown College, Rayen School of Engineering where he studied mechanical engineering for several years. When GF quit making planes, he obtained work at McKay Machine Co. as a machinist. McKay later became Wean Industries. John worked there for 40 years as a machinist millwright. While working full time in the machine industry, he graduated from ATES Technical School and became certified in air conditioning and refrigeration and heating.  He owned and operated Anthony’s Air Conditioning and Heating and was a licensed contractor for the city of Youngstown, and Trumbull and Mahoning Counties for more than 25 years as a side occupation.

Always a busy person, John and Jean opened Genie’s Artistic Specialties in Cornersburg in 1986. She designed and painted and he custom made wooden home accessories. They operated that business until 2006 when health and age began to take their toll.

John was a member of Western Reserve United Methodist Church where, in his earlier years, he served in many capacities: Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Finance Committee member, Administrative Board member and with his wife Junior Hi Youth Councilor.

The prides of his life are his and Jean’s two wonderful children; grandchildren; and great-grandchildren. He leaves his son, Daniel (Mary Kay) Anthony; daughter, Deborah A. (Kenneth) Foster; grandchildren, Vanessa (Nolan) Foster Majewski and Brenton (Meredith) Foster; great- granddaughters, Megan Majewski and Makenzie Majewski.

In addition to his parents, John was predeceased by his six brothers and two sisters, Richard, Mark, Francis, Don, Paul, David, Clara Hetrick, and Helen Horbury.

Per John's wishes, private services with military honors were held for the family. 

Arrangements entrusted to Davis-Becker Funeral Home, Boardman, OH. 

Condolences may be sent at www.beckerobits.com.