Mr. A.W. "Bill"Johnston of Pawleys Island, SC died on Sunday, May 16, 2010. He was born August 21, 1925 in Brunswick, MD. son of the late William and Hazel (Ambrose) Johnston. He is survived by his only love and wife of 64 years, Shirley Bell of Pittsburgh, PA. and four children: Sherry Mitchell (Wayne) Avon, IN, Marilyn Agnew and William Johnston of Murrells Inlet, SC and David Johnston of Hixson, TN, eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

In the spring of his graduation year - Brunswick High School 1943 - he tried out for the Baltimore Orioles and was farmed out to the interstate league as catcher, but the war changed his plans.

During World War II he served in the Marine Corps 1st Division 7th Regiment fighting in the battles at Peleliu and Okinawa as a demolition specialist. At the end of the war, he participated in the repatriation of the Japanese from North China. Bill played baseball for the 7th Regiment who later went on to win what they called The Little World Series where his catcher's mitt and big bat were standouts.

His railroad career started with the B&O and he rose through the ranks serving as General Manager-Eastern Region in Baltimore, MD; Manager of the Washington Terminal Co. at Union Station, Washington,DC; General Manager-Western Region in Cincinnati, OH and General Manager-Central Region in Pittsburgh, PA. During that period, he represented the railroad industry on the Presidential Emergency Board on the arbitration of
 the railroad "firemen off" issue and also on the Presidential Board on the "shop craft" issues. He was selected to lobby state legislators for the repeal of the full crew laws in the states of Ohio and Indiana and after several years, on all three counts, the railroads were successful. In January 1979, The Association of American Railroads Board of Directors elected him as Vice President of Operations and Maintenance representing the railroad industry on operating and safety issues, including the successful lobbying of congress for the elimination of cabooses on Class 1 Railroads. He retired from that position in August 1988 and relocated from Fairfax, VA to Litchfield, SC in September 1989. He has been a consultant to the Federal Railroad Administration on the Triad Missile Defense System (rail, sea, air) for the military.

An active member of St. Paul's Waccamaw Community United Methodist Church, he has also has served in many community positions including President of the Litchfield Country Club POA, President of the Waccamaw Neck Council and Director of the Midway Fire and Rescue Board including four years as Chairman. He was also on The Board of Directors of the Washington Terminal Company, a subsidiary of Amtrak. He was awarded the honor of Distinguished Citizen for 1983 by his home town of Brunswick, MD.

He was a member of the following lodges and organizations: The Masonic Lodge (62 years), The Scottish Rite, The Syrian Shriners, The First Marine Division, The China Marine Association, Past Commandant of the Grand Strand Detachment #873, Military Order of the Marine Corps Devil Dogs, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, National Rifle Association, Association of American Railroad Superintendents, Charter Member of The World War II Memorial, Washington, DC, National Republican Party, South Carolina State and Georgetown County Republican Parties, Railway Engineering Association and the National Defense Transportation Association.

A memorial service will be held at St. Paul's Waccamaw United Methodist Church, Pawleys Island, South Carolina 11:00 AM. Saturday, May 22, 2010.

Donations may be made to the Shriners Hospitals for Children.