Allan Johnston

Allan Johnston
March 16, 1936 – January 2, 2022
Beloved Husband, Devoted Father, Tender Grandfather and Great-Grandfather, Loving and Faithful Friend

Allan was born to Anne and Allan Johnston on March 16, 1936, in Floral Park, New York. Allan was primarily raised by his loving and devoted mother. After graduating from high school in 1952, Allan enlisted in the Army Reserves and began work as an automotive mechanic. In 1957, he activated himself in the Army and from 1957-1959, he served in Korea as part of the Signal Corp. After returning to New York, he began working in the computer field, first with Univac and then Control Data Corp (CDC). While working for CDC, Allan worked on the world’s first super computer (6600) at the Los Alamos Lab (NM).

It was during his training with Univac in Minneapolis, MN, that Allan met the love of his life, Nita. After getting married on November 4, 1961, they moved several times before settling in Boulder, CO in 1972. He continued in the computer field until 1981 when he and Nita founded Mile High Computer. In 2002, they made the decision to leave the Front Range for a more peaceful and less populated area and so they sold their business and retired to Grand Junction, CO.

Prior to and after retirement, Allan and Nita enjoyed traveling and were able to spend quite a bit of time traveling not only around the US and Canada, but also to other countries. They lived in Grand Junction until 2015 when Nita passed away. Shortly after Nita’s passing, Allan’s house burned to the ground, leading him to move back to the Front Range and live with his daughter Laura and her husband Todd, until his death.

He was incredibly talented in many areas including cooking, electronics, automotive repair, general repair and maintenance and home renovation. In fact, he remodeled and completed major projects at many of the homes that they lived in. Allan was also interested in trains, receiving his first model train set when he was a young boy and had spent the last 5 years working on a model railroad. He was very proud anytime that he could share his knowledge and expertise with others.

Allan celebrated 42 years of sobriety on December 17, 2021 and was often heard talking about how instrumental Nita was in his sobriety and how on that day in 1979, he turned his life and his will over to God, and that was the best thing he ever did.

Allan passed away peacefully at the Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center in Aurora, CO, on January 2, 2022. He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Nita. Allan is survived by his four children, Laura (Todd) Clyncke of Broomfield, CO, Dawn (Jeff) Hodapp of Chandler, AZ, Scott (Meshelle) Johnston of Ft. Worth, TX and Paul (Kathy) Johnston of Princeton, TX. His is also survived by 13 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Step 13, 2029 Larimer Street, Denver, CO 80205, (720) 465-8377.