Edgar Alan Johnston, 49, Shanghai, China, formerly of McKinney, Texas, and Altoona, died in an accident Oct. 2, 2012, near the Phi Phi Islands in the vicinity of Phuket, Thailand, while swimming and snorkeling on vacation with his wife.
He was born in Altoona, son of Edgar L. and Amelia F. (Eder) Johnston. He married Lifang Ke in April 2009. He was previously married to Lori Conley in May 1986.
Surviving are his wife, Lifang, of Shanghai, China; his former wife, Lori, of McKinney, Texas; four children: Rachael and Hannah, both of McKinney, Texas, and Sarah and Samuel, both of Shanghai, China; and six siblings: Steven E. and wife, Janice, of Cranberry Township, Kenneth J. and wife, Deborah, of Altoona, Mary M. Carey and husband, Bob, of Altoona, Gerald H. and wife, Shelly, of Mechanicsburg, Karen L. Macak and husband, Rick, of Hollidaysburg and David J. and wife, Lori, of Fairview.
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Ed is also survived by seven nephews, six nieces, a great-nephew and a great-niece.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Diane Johnston, in 1976.
Ed was a 1981 graduate of Altoona Area High School and a 1985 graduate of Penn State University with a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering, and he received his MBA from the University of Texas in 2005. He was a director of major projects - China for Celanese Corp., Shanghai, China, where he was residing with his family. Ed also held managerial positions for chemical manufacturing in Dallas and Houston, Texas, Pensacola, Fla., and Paducah, Ky., for the past 26 years with Celanese and Air Products Corp.
Ed was a past member of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Altoona, and a member of the National Society of Professional Engineers.
Friends will be received from 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 14, 2012, at Jones Funeral Home, where a vigil for the deceased will be celebrated during the visitation. A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 15, 2012, at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Altoona, Monsignor Robert C. Mazur officiating. Committal rites will be held at Calvary Cemetery, Altoona.
Condolences may be expressed at www.forevermissed.com/edgar-alan-johnston.
