Barbara J. Johnston

Barbara Jo (Stepp) Johnston died June 29. She was born Aug. 13, 1943, in Dallas to Georgia Mae (Hicks) Stepp and Henry Grady Stepp. She graduated from Bryan Adams High School in 1961 and went on to attend Baylor University from 1961 to 1963. She met Bob Johnston two days before he graduated from Baylor in 1962, and they were married March 23, 1963. In 1973, they moved to San Marcos where Barbara completed her elementary education degree at Southwest Texas University (now Texas State). In 1975, the family moved to Harlingen, and Barbara began a 29-year career as a fourth grade teacher at Bonham Elementary. In 1985, Barbara received a master’s degree from Pan American University (now UTRGV). Barbara retired from Harlingen CISD in December 2003 to help in the family mortgage business. Barbara and Bob started their business, AutoEtcNeon in 1987. For 30 years, they designed and marketed unique products for automotive enthusiasts with licenses from Ford and General Motors. Barbara was always proud that their items were made in the USA. Barbara was initiated into membership in The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, an honorary teacher’s society, in 1987. She served as co-chairperson/steering committee of three State Conventions, an International Convention, Area Coordinator, and State Chairman of four committees. She was a member of various committees as well as active in her local chapter, Lambda Eta Chapter. She was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Harlingen where she was a leader in the Women’s Ministry and on the Calvary Christian School Board. Barbara is preceded in death by her husband of 57 years Robert E. “Bob” Johnston; son Glenn Austin Johnston; parents Henry G. and Georgia M. Stepp; and brother-in-law Vernon “Tip” Johnston, Jr. She is survived by her cousins Randy (Norie) Hicks and Rusty Hicks; sisters-in-law Ann Johnston and Nancy (David) Long; and numerous nieces and nephews.