William Etsel "Ets" Johnston

William Etsel “Ets” Johnston, age 88, of Grants Pass, died Friday, April 19, 2013 at his home.

A viewing will be from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 1, 2013 at Hull & Hull Funeral Directors.

A funeral service will be at 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 1, 2013 at Hull & Hull Chapel with Pastor Andy Chasteen and Pastor Nolan Roby officiating. Private interment will be at Hawthorne Memorial Gardens.

He was born March 12, 1925 in Jerome, Arizona to William & Marie (Emhoff) Johnston. In 1926 he came to Klamath Falls in a covered wagon with his family. In 1931 they moved to the Humbug area near Yreka, California. In 1943 he graduated from Yreka High School. From 1943 to 1946 he served in the United States Army and was in the Battle of the Bulge. On September 23, 1946 in Yreka he married Beatrice “Bea” Guill and together they moved to Grants Pass in 1946. From 1946 to 1968 he worked as a lineman serviceman for Copco and later Pacific Power.

He was a member of Josephine County Sportsman Park and the Apostolic Faith Church.

His hobbies included fishing, hunting, playing mandolin, and shooting which he held many national records in cast bullet shooting.

Survivors include his wife, Beatrice “Bea” Johnston of Grants Pass, Oregon; two sons, William E. “Bill” Johnston of Tigard, Oregon and John “J.J.” Johnston of Grants Pass, Oregon;a stepbrother, Robert Ray of Redding, California; and a stepgranddaughter.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Wesley A. Johnston and a sister, Sylvia M. Paulazzo.