Harold Benjamin Johnston Jr.

Born in Taunton, Mass., to the late Harold B. Johnston, Sr., and Elsa G. Johnston, he was educated at Taunton High School in Taunton, Mass., and received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Tufts University in Medford, Mass.

Bunk received his commission in the U.S. Navy from OCS in Newport, R.I. in 1956. During his 20 years of active military service, he served in four aircraft squadrons and logged more than 5,800 hours of flight time. A veteran of the Cold War, he was also a graduate of the Naval War college and a department head on the Aircraft carrier USS Intrepid during the Vietnam conflict.

Following his retirement in 1977 from the Navy, Bunk was in the real estate industry for 18 years. He became Vice President and Part-owner of Johnston-Hazard and Assoc. Ltd., Realtors in 1982. He was also a part-owner in E.D. Thompson and Assoc.; a home building company, a partner in the Whittenton Group, and BME Enterprises; real estate investment partnerships.

Following his real estate career, he became interested in Fine Art Restoration, became an accomplished Master gilder, and owner of Johnston’s Gold Leaf and Restoration. He was also a Secretary/ Treasurer of Benjamin Johnston Enterprises, INC.

Bunk was an active member of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity, the National Corvette Restorers Society, the Solid Axle Corvette Club, the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the National Corvette Restorers Society, the USS Intrepid Assn. of former crew members, the International Society of Gilders, the Chrysler Museum and a former Head Coach of the Greater Tidewater minor Hockey Assn.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife and best friend of 65 years, Betty L. Johnston. Survivors include his adored children: a daughter, Darcy Lee Coles and her husband, Randall, a Son Harold B. “Ben” Johnston III, his much-loved grandsons, Brayden Benjamin Johnston and Tristan Lee Johnston, all of Virginia Beach, VA.

In keeping with his wishes, no memorial service is planned. A service with full Military Honors will follow at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington, VA with his inurnment with his wife in the columbarium. Neptune Cremation Service of Virginia Beach is handling arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that those wishing to do so, please make a donation to the Chrysler Museum of Art, One Memorial Place, Norfolk, VA 23510-1587