Wallace Lamont Johnston, a dedicated educator, engineer and beloved family man, passed away peacefully on July 16, 2026, at the age of 89.
A proud and lifelong Aggie, Wallace earned his bachelor’s (1964), master’s (1966) and doctoral degrees (1968) in industrial education from Texas A&M University. His passion for learning launched a distinguished career in higher education. He served as a professor and department chair at West Texas State University before moving to Amarillo College, where he served as dean of technology, dean of continuing education and vice president. He concluded his impactful career as the associate director of Texas Tech’s Graduate Education Center in Amarillo.
Beyond the classroom, Wallace was deeply invested in his community, serving actively in the Canyon Lion’s Club and the Amarillo Rotary Club. As a certified safety professional, he possessed a brilliant engineering mind and a sharp wit. He was deeply passionate about designing adaptive technologies to improve mobility for individuals with disabilities — a testament to his innovative spirit and desire to help others. He could often be spotted riding his beloved Segway, affectionately named “Rover.”
Wallace is survived by his devoted wife of 69 years, Rosalind Louise Johnston of Essex Junction, Vt.; and his sister, Francine Rodinsky Plummer of Gilroy, Calif. He was the proud father of Paula Short (Jericho, Vt.), Jana Ellison (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Cara Clopton (Jericho, Vt.) and the late Laura Horn. His legacy lives on through his seven grandchildren —Jessica Johnson, Eric Short, Tracy Holshouser, Jennifer Winters, Kate Short, Kelly Ellison and Zoey Clopton — and his five great-grandchildren, Bay, Lilith, Capri, Persephone and Jovie.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in Wallace’s memory to the McClure Miller Respite House in Colchester, Vt.