Lawrence Paul (Larry) Johnston, 78 of State College, died peacefully May3, 2026 at home, surrounded by his family.
Born May 19, 1947, in Philadelphia, he was the son of the late Albert H. and Florence Eleanor (Kelley) Johnston. On March 23, 1968, he married Helen Veronica Durand, who survives, at the Helen Eakin Eisenhower Chapel. Her sister, Sally Davis, was the matron of honor.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons, L. Paul Johnston Jr, and his wife Tammy of Macungie and Glenn Matthew Johnston and his wife Lauren of Randolph, NJ and four grandchildren, Matthew (son of Paul and Tammy) and his wife Elizabeth Johnston of New York, NY, Alison (daughter of Paul and Tammy) and her husband Joshua Salerno of Herndon, VA, Callum Johnston, and Isla Johnston (son and daughter of Glenn and Lauren Johnston.
Larry was the youngest of four brothers. His oldest brother, Albert, Jr who lost his mother as a baby, served in the Navy. He was buried with his family in Valley Forge Memorial Cemetery but never had a well-deserved military marker placed there for his dedicated service during World War II. Larry was not satisfied with this. He worked diligently for years to make it happen. It’s a fine brass marker with a marble base.
Robert, the oldest of his father’s second wife, Eleanor, was a talented, dedicated musician, professional organist and teacher and a constant source of kindness; someone Larry looked up to and respected.
Bryon, the middle son of Albert and Eleanor, was also admired and respected for having paid for most of his degree in Engineering where he parlayed it into an Environmental engineer position for Nabisco. He was also a professional Photographer on the side.
With so much support and inspiration from his family, Larry distinguished himself as an outstanding student who continually made the honor roll. He graduated from Sharon Hill High School with Meritorious National Honors.
As a member of his school’s honor society, Larry was invited to Participate in a Jeopardy-like academic quiz program called “Scotts Hi Q (now Delco Hi Q – recognized as the nation’s oldest continuous academic quiz competition).” He was so fascinated by the whole experience that when he grew up and attended Penn State University, he received his degree in Speech-Broadcasting.
True to his passion, Larry, as a Penn State student, was hired by the fledging Public Broadcasting TV Station affiliated with Penn State, WPSX. He was so happy to help build this, now renowned PBS TV station, that he admitted he would have been “happy to work there for free.” As WPSX grew, Larry was invited by the Station manager to join the team as a full-time hire. He soon made his way up to Audio Manager, Special Projects Director and , ultimately, Operations Manager.
While working as Audio Manager, he was invited by Penn State’s Assistant Athletic Director, Fran Fisher (Nittany Lions play-by-play voice from 1970-1982) to direct the Penn State Football Radio Broadcasts, which he did gladly for 10 years as a side bar to his WPSX responsibilities. He worked in Penn State’s Press Box with Mr. Fisher. Larry is also responsible for the creation of a generational wave of Johnstons at Penn State, including Helen, Paul. Glenn, Matthew, Alison, Joshua and Bryon. This also led to Paul meeting Tammy.
During Larry’s extremely busy career, he, along with wife, Helen, was able to sustain an active family life and participate in raising two very successful and talented boys, L. Paul Johnston and Glenn Matthew Johnston. He was there for many sports events, plays, camping, Scouts, travel and much more. He also coached several of their sports and was actively involved as Scout Master during Boy Scouts.
After an 18-year illustrious career with WPSX, Larry again got in on the ground floor of Penn State’s newly built Telecommunications Office as Operations Manager. He stayed with Penn State’s Telecommunications, where he watched it grow into what is today a national and globally ranked system before retiring to help his wife, Helen’s career take off.
As a returning adult student, she received her B.A. in Public Service and qualified for the U.S. Department’s Foreign Service. Larry lovingly and loyally followed Helen around the world and started a second 15-year career himself.
He was hired on full time with the Foreign Service where he served as General Services Officer for Mauritania, Consular Associate for Barbados, General Services Officer for both Tanzania and Hungary. Additionally, he served as Desk Officer for five West African countries while serving in Washington D.C.
During his tenure in the Foreign Service, Larry continued to receive a multitude of awards for outstanding service to the U.S Department of State. He also earned a P.A.D.I Scuba certification in Barbados where he and Helen dived every Sunday for three years with the Barbados American Diver’s Association (aka BADASS for short).
While Larry and Helen were living in all these far-away places, Tammy’s parents, Ed and Betty Miller, stood in as a second family, welcoming Glenn as part of their family for holidays and special events.
Following Larry’s second distinguished career as a Foreign Service Officer, he retired in 2009 to help Helen take care of her aging mother who had Alzheimer’s. Larry diligently and daily helped his wife care for her mother for 10 years after which, they both struck out to see their own beautiful country with a Chevy Silverado pulling first a Viking camper to see 30 states, then a Winnebago Micro Minnie camper to see the rest of the mainland states. They did indeed “see the U.S.A. in their Chevrolet.”
Throughout the years that they were lucky enough to be in the United States, they had the good fortune to gather for the holidays with caring and loving relatives; each year meeting for a large Christmas gathering at one or another’s homes. This wonderful tradition was started by his older brother Robert’s family.
Larry watched his family grow. His eldest son, Paul married his college sweetheart, Tammy, and started his own law practice and family with a son, Matthew and daughter, Alison. Larry was further pleased when, after a long bachelorhood, his younger son, Glenn attended law school, passed the New York Bar, worked for Federal judges in Manhattan, married his sweetheart of two years and started his own family with a son, Callum and daughter, Isla.
We’re not done yet. Glenn’s Mother-in-law and Father-in-law (George and Noreen Klopacs) became fast friends with Larry and Helen while Glenn and Lauren were still dating. They own a home in Florida’s Villages community. They are “snowbirds.” They like golf. Larry and Helen like golf. After a few years visiting the Klopacs in their winter home, they bought a house in the Villages too. They became snowbirds. They delighted in the sunshine and fun atmosphere provided in this “Disney World for grownups.” A lot of golf was played.
They both became too ill to enjoy Florida and returned to State College in February of this year. They are both so happy to be back in Happy Valley where they grew together as a family; where they belong.
Friends will be received on Sunday, May 10, 2026, from 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. at Koch Funeral Home, 2401 S. Atherton St., State College, PA. A funeral service will follow at 2:00 p.m.
Larry will be laid to rest in Spring Creek Cemetery, State College, PA.
In addition to flowers, or in lieu of them, donations may be made to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation at https://www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org
Online condolences may be shared at www.kochfuneralhome.com