BEN EARL JOHNSTON, DVM
1938-2021
Ben Earl Johnston, DVM of Houston, Texas, 82, left us to be with the Lord on Monday, August 30, 2021.
Ben was born December 19, 1938, in Wichita Falls, Texas, to William C. and Grace (Denman) Johnston. Following graduation from Petrolia High School in 1957, Ben attended A&M College of Texas (Texas A&M University), where he received a degree in Animal Science in 1961 and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (Magna Cum Laud) from Texas A&M University in 1963.
In 1963, Ben and his wife, Yvonne (Parker), moved to Albany, Georgia, as Ben joined the US Air Force and served at Turner Strategic
Air Command Air Force
Base until 1965. Following his military engagement,
Ben and Yvonne moved to Houston, Texas, where he joined Westbury Animal Hospital (WAH) and was there until his retirement on May 11, 2011.
During his long and distinguished veterinary career, Ben was a member of many organizations and served in numerous leadership roles including: President – Harris County Veterinary Medical Assoc. (HCVMA) 1974-75; President of TVMA 1981-82; American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Group Health & Life Insurance
Trust Board Chairman from 1985-87; AAHA Regional Director for Region IV 1983-1986; Advisory Board of Houston Community College 1979-1981; Advisory Committee at Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine 1970-1988; Liaison Committee between College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University and TVMA 1984-1986.
Ben was often recognized and honored as a result of his works in veterinary medicine. Those honors included: Diplomate-American Board of Veterinary Practitioners 1982 - recertified in 1991; Companion Animal Veterinarian Award for Texas 1983; Distinguished Alumni Award, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University 1983; AAHA Region IV Practitioner of the Year Award 1996; and Distinguished Alumni Award, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University 1991. In 2009, Ben was instrumental in designing a overseeing construction of new state-ofthe-art animal hospital for WAH with his partners and colleagues. The new WAH was awarded as the Veterinary Economics Hospital of the Year in 2009.
Ben was known to his colleagues, staff, clients and friends as “Dr. J.”. He was a skilled surgeon, and a wonderful mentor, partner and teacher: a dedicated and gifted doctor who skillfully worked each day with compassion and patience for his patients and clients.
Survivors include his wife Yvonne of Houston and his four children; Brent Johnston and wife Anna Highnote of Houston, Craig Johnston and wife Shawn of Moorseville, NC, Corey Johnston and his partner DiAn Nguyen of Houston and daughter, Kristin Weiss and husband Charlie of Houston. He also leaves behind seven grandchildren, four greatgrandchildren, three sisters and many beloved nieces and nephews. He was proceeded in death by his parents, four brothers and two of his sisters.
A Celebration of Life service will be held for Ben on Saturday, October 16, 2021 at 1:30 pm at Sugar Land Baptist Church, 16755 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land, Texas 77479. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be sent to the TAMF - College of Veterinary Medicine in memory of Dr. Ben Earl Johnston `63. Please make checks payable to the Texas A&M Foundation and mail to 401 George Bush Drive, College Station, Texas 77840. Online donations may be made at give.am/vetmed, select “An Unlisted Account” from the drop down menu and enter Dr. Ben Earl Johnston `63.