Richard Henry Johnston died Oct. 1, 2003.

He was born Sept. 25, 1917, in Tacoma, and his family moved to Kirkland when he was 1 year old. He married Dorothy M. Albert in 1942 and had two children, Maren Jensen-Metcalf and Kenneth Scott Johnston.

He worked for the Boeing Co. for 30 years as a master mechanic in automotive, but also had a business of his own selling moorage at his own dock in Houghton, which was later annexed to Kirkland. He enjoyed restoring, selling and simply enjoying boats. He and his family lived on the shore of Lake Washington for more than 30 years, and they spent most vacations on the water in their Blanchard Dream Boat named Antares after a star used for navigation.

He was a volunteer fireman and policeman for the town of Houghton for many years, and he took pride in his involvement in the community. He loved to square dance, had a beautiful singing voice, and a sense of humor that he was known for. He loved to regale anyone who’d listen with a good tale from the past. He had been part of Whidbey Island since he was a child, traveling to the island by boat to fish and camp. He became a permanent resident nearly 30 years ago.

According to his family, he was a loving partner to Lois Thayer for the last 16 years of his life. He felt that he had met his true soul mate, and they traveled and fished their way up and down the West Coast, from Baja to Alaska.

He is survived by Lois; two children, Maren and Scott, both of Whidbey Island; and four grandchildren, Olivia Teal Asplund of Piedmont, Calif., Nicolas Wren Metcalf of Seattle, and Cassie Amanda Johnston and Travis Richard Johnston, both of Whidbey Island.

The family wishes to thank the entire team at Hospice of Whidbey Island, who made it possible for Mr. Johnston to have peace and comfort in his last three weeks.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Friday at Trinity Lutheran Church, Freeland.