Stan was born on February 9, 1946 in Jackson, Mississippi, the son of James Carlton Johnston and Alvis Cowan Johnston. He grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana.
On Bastille Day in 1962, he met Linda Lou West, and they were married in 1966. They were madly, passionately, totally, and irrevocably in love for the rest of their lives. Linda died on July 15, 2017, and Stan died on Saturday, January 23, 2021.
Stan studied Electrical Engineering at Georgia Tech, graduating with Highest Honors. He later earned a Ph.D. in System Engineering from the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn (now part of New York University).
Stan worked as a telecommunications engineer and manager for almost 30 years in New Jersey for Bell Laboratories and other units of AT&T and Lucent Technologies. His last position was Network Planning Director.
At age 47, Stan and Linda simultaneously requested leaves of absence from their employers, and subsequently took early retirement. Having researched for several years where they wanted to live in retirement, they chose Bainbridge Island, Washington, and bought land there in 1993. In 1995, they moved there and built a house of their own design, where they lived happily ever after together.
Stan always loved reading, travel, photography, and computers. He enjoyed learning and using science, mathematics, technology, business, economics, politics, history, and philosophy. He was profoundly influenced by the writings of Ayn Rand. He also liked mathematical puzzles, word games, classic country music, cats, and good food and drink. He had occasion to indulge richly in all of these pleasures. All in all, he lived a charmed life and had no regrets.
A viewing will be held on Monday, February 15, 2021 from 4-6pm at Cook Family Funeral Home, 163 Wyatt Way NE, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110. Live streaming will be available at facebook.com/cookffh on Monday beginning at 4pm.
Masks, number of guests, and social distancing protocols will be strictly enforced.
Arrangements are entrusted to Cook Family Funeral Home on Bainbridge Island, WA.
