Clifton Eugene Johnston

In the warm glow of the setting sun on June 23, 2025, Clifton Eugene Johnston passed peacefully into eternal rest surrounded by his loving family. Cliff lived a life of quiet strength, loyalty and deep devotion to his family and friends.

Together with Ann, his high-school sweetheart and wife of 56 years, Cliff raised his two sons Eric and Kirk in Stockton, blessing them with the gentle guidance and structure necessary to be successful fathers, friends and members of their communities.

Cliff was born on January 28, 1942 in Merced, California to Eugene and Lola Johnston. After graduating from Merced High School, Cliff began a 40 year career in the industrial welding supply field, beginning as a truck driver and ultimately owning a welding supply firm after moving to Stockton in 1977. He led Allied Industrial Gas & Welding for more than 27 years until its acquisition by Airgas, where he continued working in management until his retirement in 2004.

After retiring, Cliff embraced a variety of pursuits. He and Ann relished traveling, especially to Hawaii, where he learned the craft of woodworking in a friend’s wood shop in Honoka’a. He was so talented he opened his own wood studio on Cherryland Avenue where he took the art of woodworking to truly artistic levels. Not content with woodworking alone, he took an art class and began painting landscapes of the many places he and Ann had visited. His many works of art were often featured at local galleries and art fairs. He served on the Stockton Art Gallery Board of Directors for seven years during retirement, bringing his extensive business acumen to the gallery’s operations.

Along with his family, Cliff treasured the lifelong friendships that enriched his days and brought him joy. Beach, wine country, and Kirkwood trips with the Fluetschs and Ramseys highlighted the early years in Stockton, and he enjoyed the many lively dinners with the Tweedys and the Mercers in his later years. He especially looked forward to his weekly trap shooting and golf outings with fellow artist Joe Draegert, which always ended with lunch at Angelina’s. Cliff could often be found either at his woodworking studio designing a new piece or at one of the regions’ many art galleries. His interests were wide and varied - as comfortable under the hood of a classic car as he was racing down a ski slope; boating and waterskiing; trying to reach the golf green in two; hunting or fishing in the Sierras; or painting vivid reflections of the places he’d seen.

Cliff is survived by his wife Ann Johnston, son Eric (Susan) Johnston, son Kirk (Laurie) Johnston; granddaughters Brittany O’Neil (Kyle), Morgan Crouch (Austin) and Noelle Johnston; and great-granddaughter Rhylee O’Neil. Cliff is also survived by his sister Pamela Zschau and her sons William and Scott and their families and the family of his late sister Judith including Richard Cecchettini and children Chris, Mark, Greg, Janet and Elizabeth. He is preceded in death by his beloved parents Eugene and Lola Johnston and his sister Judith Cecchettini.

A celebration of Cliff’s life will be held at noon on Sunday, August 17, 2025 at the Stockton Golf and Country Club. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations in his memory to the St. Joseph’s Foundation of San Joaquin, Hospice of San Joaquin or a charity of your choice.