Benton Johnston Jr.

Benton W. Johnston Jr., 76, of Union City peacefully passed away on April 25, 2022.
Services will be held at 1 p.m. Thurs-day at White-Ranson Funeral Home with the Rev. Eddie Mallonee officiating.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Thursday. Burial will follow in Stanley’s Chapel Cemetery near Union City.
Pallbearers include Perry Barfield, Jimmy Gray, Tack Simmons Jr., Karl Jackson, Melvin Dowell, Chris Cummings and David Rhoades.
Ben was born on May 21, 1945, in Columbus, Ga., to the late Benton W. Johnston Sr. and Alberta (Yawn) Dugan.
Ben, or “Duck,” as he was affectionately known by friends and family, began a lifetime of military and public service in the United States Army as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne in Fort Bragg, N.C. His service continued with the Union City Police Department, from which he retired as Sergeant after 30 years of service.
He is also retired from the Tennessee National Guard 913th Engineering Company. In his retired years, he loved spending time with his grandchildren, traveling to the lake and watching Western movies.
He married Laura Tate on Sept. 26, 1976. She survives. He is also survived by two sons, Hunter (Kelly) Johnston of Milan and William Terrell “Terry” (Donna) Johnston of Phenix City, Ala. Duck and Laura also lovingly claim Jennie Beth (Steven) Bearden of Union City as a “bonus” daughter.
Grandchildren include Ellen and Will Benton Johnston of Milan; and Jonathan, Morgan and Conner Johnston of Phenix City. He also has five great-grandchildren, Katelyn, Orion, Chandler, Eden and Blakely of Phenix City. A sister, Dianne McGriff, and mother-in-law, Barbara Simmons, also survive.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Shelby Cotton and Wayne Newsome.
He was a member of Second Baptist Church in Union City.
The family requests memorials be sent to St. Jude Children’s Reasearch Hospital.
Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.white-ranson.com.

Published 4.26.22