Johnston Cummings

April 8, 1935—January 16, 2021

Johnston was born in Aberdeen, Scotland to Annie Milne Cummings (nee Scorgie) and James Young Cummings. At five years old, his father died leaving six children and a widow living in a one-bedroom apartment in a tenement building.  A year later, World War II broke out in Britain and Johnston enjoyed regaling us with many stories of the air raids, his mother distracting the children with songs and games in the underground shelters, wearing gas masks at school, and being on food rations.

He was an avid futbol player and cyclist, spending many weekends of his youth cycling into the Scottish countryside.  After graduating from Frederick Street High School, Johnston served his apprenticeship as an electrician, eventually becoming a master electrician.

At 21 years old, he fulfilled his mandatory military service by joining the British Army and serving in Cyprus. While there, Johnston began a pen pal relationship that changed the course of his life. Through his letters to and from Shirley Whyte, also of Aberdeen, Scotland, they fell in love.

In 1959, Johnston immigrated to be with Shirley in Dearborn, Michigan, where he lived for the remainder of his life. In 1961, Johnston and Shirley married and began a family eventually having four girls.  In 1962, he started his nearly thirty-five-year career at Ford Motor Company as an electrician. He was proud of his trade and a proud Ford retiree.

In 1999, shortly after retirement, Johnston's beloved Shirley passed away.   Instead of spending those years together, as they had planned, Johnston worked part time for Centerline Electric until he was nearly 80 years old.  He remained active with the First Presbyterian Church of Dearborn serving on many committees and was always the last one out the door on a Sunday because he talked to everyone.  Anyone who spoke to Johnston knew his Scottish heritage was important to him.  He was a member of the Detroit Burns Club for nearly 60 years, a club founded by Scottish immigrants to celebrate and maintain the memory and the works of the Scottish poet Robert Burns, a memory best maintained by drinking scotch, singing, dancing, and laughing. He enjoyed golfing and spending time with his family and beloved grandbairns.

Johnston was generous with everything:  his money, his time, his wisdom, his love, his tolerance, and his empathy.  He enjoyed a good laugh and a good blether.  (Scottish for engaging in a conversation.)  Johnston always wanted to know all about you.  He wanted to know what made you happy, how your day was and what interested you.  He treated everyone with respect, kindness, and dignity no matter your station in life.  He knew everyone had a story or lesson to share. He could connect with someone he had everything in common with equally with someone he had nothing in common with.  He showed up for everyone in his life.  And he answered his landline every time it rang.

Johnston was preceded in death by his parents Annie and James Cummings, his wife Shirley Whyte Cummings, his brothers Allan, Gordon and Edward Cummings, his son-in-law Tim Wloch, and his granddaughter Lola Wloch.

He is survived by his sisters Irene Bothwell, Sheila Robertson, and Kathleen Thom; daughters Alison Drzinski (James), Aileen Cummings, Heather Cummings (RJ Webber), and Sheila Cummings (Alex Bellak); and grandchildren Cailee McIntosh (Nicholas), Jillian Drzinski, Charlie Wloch, Ian Webber, Ruby Wloch, Fiona Schwartz, Audrey Bellak, and Claire Bellak. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and other loving family and friends.

A HIGHLAND WELCOME

By Robert Burns

When Death's dark stream I ferry o'er

A time that surely shall come,

In Heaven itself I'll ask no more

Than just a Highland Welcome

Visitation at the Dearborn Chapel of Howe-Peterson Funeral Home on Thursday, January 21, 4-8pm. Private family service will be held on Friday. Interment at Northview Cemetery in Dearborn.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Michigan Humane Society ( https://www.michiganhumane.org/donatenow/?sl_tc=zotabox_donate ) or Memory Lane Assisted Living, 8064 Carpenter Rd. Ypsilanti, MI 48197. Please make checks payable to Memory Lane.

Memory Lane Assisted Living took the utmost care of Johnston until the end and the family would like for all to give back, if so inclined to make a donation.