Gertrude “Trudy” Huddleston Johnston, 82, died peacefully October 16, 2018 in Kansas City, Kansas.

Trudy was born on November 20, 1935 in Big Shoal, Kentucky to the late Lorin H. Riley and Patty Genevieve (Huddleston) Riley.  She graduated from Strayer University in Washington, D.C. and then worked at the Pentagon. She married A. Neal B. Johnston, the love of her life, on April 2, 1960. Trudy and Neal moved from Virginia to Kansas in 1966 where she helped to start Johnston's Incorporated. Trudy continued to run the family business for several years after Neal's death in 1982.

Throughout her life, Trudy was dedicated to her family, friends, church, and her love of animals.  Trudy is survived by her son, Holt (Jamie) Johnston; her daughters, Jennifer Johnston and Susan (Jim) Johnston-Coletta; three grandchildren, Brock Johnston, Blayke Johnston, and Ben Coletta.  She is preceded in death by her husband, Neal; her sisters, Anna Johnson and Patricia Adams; and her brother, Robert "Buddy" Riley.

Funeral Services

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, October 20, 2018 at St. Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church 1501 Edwardsville Drive, Edwardsville, Kansas 66111.  The family will receive friends one hour prior to services at the church.  Trudy will be laid to rest at Shawnee Mission Memory Gardens immediately following services. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Trudy’s life.

Memorial Contributions

In lieu of flowers, please feel free to donate to Great Plains SPCA 5428 Antioch Drive, Merriam, Kansas, 66202 (www.greatplainsspca.org) or Catholic Community Hospice, 9720 West 87th Street, Overland Park, KS 66212.