RODNEY DOYLE JOHNSTON

Rodney D. Johnston

March 13, 1936 – April 6, 2025

A Life Well Lived

Life and Career

Rodney D. Johnston was born the son of Roland and Sallye Johnston in Shreveport, Louisiana. He was the second child of seven. At an early age his family moved to Pine Bluff, Arkansas where he grew up and graduated from Pine Bluff High School in May of 1954.

After high school Rodney moved to Dallas, Texas where he met the love of his life Gale Currin. They were married on December 27, 1957, while both were students at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Rodney graduated from Baylor in May of 1960 with a B.A. Degree. While in high school he enlisted in the Navy Reserve and served eight years with Honorable Discharge August 1961.

Gale and Rodney moved to Ft. Worth in June 1960, where he started working in the independent insurance business as an accountant. In 1965, he started his own agency where he had much success for over sixty years, culminating in his recent retirement from Higginbotham and Associates.

Throughout his career Rodney volunteered in various activities including Big Brothers and March of Dimes. He was also very involved in serving in various capacities at Colonial Country Club including being the score keeper in the Saturday post-golf gin games in the Men’s 19th hole, a member of the Board of Governors, serving on numerous Board Committees, and as Tournament Chairman of The Colonial National Invitational golf tournament in 1980, ’81, and ’82.

Hobbies and Interests

After his deep love and affection for Gale, his family, and friends, Rodney enjoyed a number of hobbies and interests.

Golf. Rodney was an avid golfer and enjoyed many aspects of the game. One of his fondest memories was playing in the Colonial 1980 Pro-Am with Gerald Ford. He had a number of aces over the years, but his most memorable was a hole-in-one on Number 7 at Pebble Beach on New Years Day 1985. He also loved to tell the story of how he inadvertently caddied nine holes for a pro golfer friend of his in the 1977 United States Open at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Travel. Rodney traveled extensively throughout his life. He and Gale were able to travel the world for 40+ years with friends and family. Most of those trips involves sightseeing, golf, and/or fine dining.

Fine Dining. Rodney was a self-taught gourmet cook. His favorite charitable donation was to auction off a gourmet dinner that he prepared and served with wines from his extensive wine collection. He also attended numerous gourmet cooking events in Napa and Sonoma valleys.

Wine Collecting. His love and appreciation of wines involved his Chairmanship and President of Knights of the Vine, Chaine de Rotisseurs and member in Commandere de Bordeaux. For many years, he organized and led small groups to tour Napa and Sonoma wineries. In addition, through a unique turn of events, a bottle of rare 1973 Stag’s Leap S.L.V. Cabernet Sauvignon from his collection was placed in the Smithsonian Institute’s National Museum of American History in recognition of this wine winning a prestigious 1976 Paris wine tasting that put California wine on the map.

Family

Rodney was married to Gale for 67 years. They have two sons, Jeff born in 1962 and Carter in 1965. Carter and his wife, Kris, have two sons, Jake and Parker. Jeff and his wife, MaryBeth, have three children, Arden, Griffin, and Hudson. Arden is married to Jackson Naughton and they have two daughters, Penelope and Leighton. Griffin is married to Rachel. Rodney’s surviving siblings are Sandra Downs, Dyanna Bocksnick, and David Johnston.

Celebrating and Honoring Rodney

A Celebration of Life for Rodney will take place on May 24, 2025 (in the AM) at The Tradition, which is located at 5755 Clearfork Main, Fort Worth, TX 76109.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation, in memory of Rodney, to Cook Children's Medical Center, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, March of Dimes, Baylor University, or a charity of your choice.

In addition, please consider honoring and celebrating Rodney’s life by enjoying his hobbies and interests. With your family and friends, pick a date to do the following. Play a round of golf, maybe even at a travel destination. Follow the round with some post-golf gin rummy. That night, enjoy a gourmet meal at a nice restaurant. At that meal order a bottle of wine, maybe even a Stag’s Leap Cabernet. After the wine has been opened and had time to breathe, pour a glass and then make a toast to Rodney Johnston, and a life well lived.