Betty Jo Johnston, 95, of Hurricane, formerly of Point Pleasant, West Virginia, peacefully departed this life and went home to the Lord on March 20, 2025.

Betty Jo Walters was born on April 12, 1929, in Rainelle, West Virginia. As a child, Betty’s family moved to Mount Hope and then to Charleston. She graduated from Stonewall Jackson High School in 1947. Betty then graduated from Morris Harvey College in 1951 with a bachelor’s degree in Biology. At Morris Harvey, Betty formed lifelong friendships in her sorority and sang in the traveling choir. She put that education to work at the West Virginia State Laboratory for twelve years. After getting married she became a full time homemaker and mother, also helping as needed with her husband’s veterinary practice.

After moving to Point Pleasant in 1967, Betty was dedicated to helping others and serving in leadership roles in her church and community. Betty was a Christian and a member of Point Pleasant Presbyterian Church until her passing. At her church, Betty taught Sunday School, lead a community food bank and served on the session, the governing body of the church. She served as Clerk of the session, which is the lay leader of the church, and led two different searches for new pastors when vacancies occurred. For many years, Betty led the Red Cross Bloodmobile program in Point Pleasant. Betty was also active for many years in the homemakers clubs of Mason County, as a member and officer of her home club, the Camp Conley Homemakers, and at the county level. Betty enjoyed the many friendships she made with her fellow homemakers.

Betty will also be remembered as a loving, loyal and kind daughter, sister, wife, aunt, mother, grandmother and friend. She loved cooking, baking, crafts and cats. Betty was an excellent player of Shanghai Rummy.

Betty is preceded in death by her parents Herbert and Frances Walters; her husband, Dr. William E. Johnston; and her brothers, Herbert Walters, Jr., and Robert Walters. She is survived by her son, U.S. District Judge Thomas E. Johnston, his wife Sydney and stepdaughter Olivia; grandchildren Joie Johnston, Esq., of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Dr. Jack Johnston and his significant other, Casey Underwood, of Gainesville, Florida; great granddaughter Adilyn Grace Johnston; Betty’s brother Bill Walters and his wife, Pat, of Eagle, Idaho, and their children, Mike Walters, of Meridian, Idaho, and Sharon Hurlbut and her husband Dennis of Hillsboro, Oregon; nephew Rob Walters and his wife, Kerry, of Charleston, South Carolina; and niece, Pamela Tessnear and her husband, Marshall Tessnear of Blackburg, Virginia.

Visitation will be on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 from 10 a.m. to noon at Allen Funeral Home in Hurricane, West Virginia, to be followed immediately by a memorial service with family friend Pastor Thom Mollohan officiating. Betty will be laid to rest beside her husband at Forest Hills Cemetery in Letart, West Virginia.