Doris E. Rev. Johnston

Rev. Doris Elizabeth Kaparoff Johnston, 92, of Ft. Myers, Florida, formally of Napoleon and Toledo, Ohio, died Monday, September 8, at Hope Hospice in Ft. Myers, Florida. She was born in Columbus, Ohio on February 9,1922, to Triphon and Doris Kaparoff ( McElhaney). She married the Rev. Isaac Johnston in 1948, who proceeded her in death. Rev. Doris Johnston was a graduate of Taylor University in 1943 with a B.S. degree in Education. She did graduate work at the Ohio State University. Later in life she attended the United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio and graduated with a Master of Divinity in 1981. Rev. Johnston began her career working in Toledo, Ohio for the gas company as a Betty Newton. She then began her teaching career, teaching in Rushville, Dayton, and Carey, Ohio. When the Johnston's moved to Napoleon, Ohio she taught Latin at Napoleon High School for 15 years. She was a highly respected and well loved teacher! To this day she is remembered for the strong Latin program she built in Napoleon. After teaching over 27 years, she decided to retire and follow her calling to ministry. At the age of 57, in the spring of 1979, she enrolled in seminary to study to become an ordained minister in the United Methodist Church. After her ordination in 1981, she spent 10 years in the ministry. She served Ohio churches in Lima (Bluelick and Ridge) and in Wauseon (Church of the Master and Tedrow). Doris was a pioneer, becoming one of the first women to be ordained as a minister in the West Ohio Conference. She helped mentor other women who were following their calling. Doris's husband Isaac was a minister and throughout his career Doris participated as an active minister's wife. She was very involved in Bible study groups, Women's meetings, taught Sunday School, taught Bible School, sang in the choir and helped make calls. After retiring from the ministry, Doris and Isaac Johnston moved to Ft. Myers, Florida. Together they began a tradition in their mobile home park of a Sunrise Service on Easter Sunday. They were very proud that the service is still well attended and their wishes were that it would continue. Doris also led a Bible Study in the park until last year, when she asked a friend to lead it. Doris enjoyed volunteering. In Fort Myers she was a volunteer at Gulf Coast Hospital, Tice Elementary school, migrant school, and also volunteered at the Lighthouse, an organization for the visually impaired. She was very proud that she learned to use the computer and the iPad at the Lighthouse, and she tried to help others learn how to as well. Painting was a hobby of Doris. She loved to paint and started to paint before she became legally blind. After her blindness, she continued to paint at the Lighthouse. Her works were chosen for a calendar and also to be displayed in the hospital lobbies. Doris was known for her loving kindness, intelligence, patience, and devotion to God. She was strong in her faith and passed the love of God to all who knew her. She lived and died with dignity, poise, and grace. Doris was preceded in death by her parents, Triphon and Doris Kaparoff, brother Paul Kaparoff, and husband, Isaac Johnston. She is survived by daughters Deborah (Trannie) Sehlmeyer and Lois (Colin) Feng. She has two granddaughters, Sonrisa Sehlmeyer and Cassondra (Alex) Werner, and one great-grandson, Isaac Sehlmeyer. Services will be held at First United Methodist Church in Perrysburg, Ohio on Monday, Sept. 15 at 11:00, with Rev. Eric McGlade officiating. Internment will be in Maple Grove Cemetery in Findlay, Ohio, on Monday afternoon. Friends may call in the Witzler-Shank Mortuary in Perrysburg, Ohio (419-874-3133) from 2-8 on Sunday, Sept. 14. A memorial service will be held in Ft. Myers, Florida at Tice United Methodist Church on February 8, 2015. The family suggests memorials be made to Tice United Methodist Church, Hope Hospice, or Lighthouse, all in Ft. Myers, Florida, or the charity of donor's choice.