Dennis A. Johnston, Ph.D

Dennis was welcomed into his Lord’s arms after taking his last peaceful breath on Wednesday, December 6, 2023. He was 79 years, 2 months, and 19 days old.

Antioch Lifegroup will meet in the celebration of Dennis’ life from 5-8PM Thursday, December 14, 2023 at 10010 Lost Oak Ridge, Woodway, TX 76712.
Wake in celebration of Dennis’ life from 2-5 PM Tuesday December 19, 2023 at 10010 Lost Oak Ridge, Woodway, TX 76712. For information call 832.978.0091.

Dennis was born Sunday, September 17, 1944, in Oak Ridge, Tennessee to William Levy Johnston and Della Dymple Addington. Following WWII, his father left the Tennessee Valley Authority and moved the family to Arlington, Texas. Dennis, as a single child, honed his independence and strong will in the cinder block house his father built along Randall Mill Road. He spent his summers exploring his uncle’s farm with his cousins in Crosbyton, TX, and under the roof of his grandfather, Joseph E. Johnston’s Star Hotel in Crosbyton.

Dennis started his faith’s journey in St. Albans Episcopal Church. He met at the instigation of his mother and parishioner and future mother-in law Matilda M. Gibson, his wife Janice M. Gibson while serving as an acolyte and playing the church’s organ. They were married at St. Albans on Saturday, August 27, 1966.

Dennis began his higher education in pursuit of a degree in physics but found his love and mistress in the field of mathematics and statistics, lost in the beauty and majesty of numerical equations, mathematical proofs, and statistical probabilities. He would receive his Bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Arlington State College, precursor to the University of Texas at Arlington, in 1964, a Master’s degree in mathematics from the University of Texas at Austin in 1966, and a Doctor in Philosophy in mathematics and statistics from Texas Tech University in 1972. He published 298 publications and has been cited over 19,000 times during his long career with a particular field of interest in internal medicine and cancer.

Dennis began his career in the military. He was a member of the Reserve Officer Training Corps in high school and college and would serve as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army stationed at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX during the Vietnam War in 1969. In 1973 after receiving his doctorate, he began work as a Bio-mathematician and eventual tenured professor of Bio-mathematics at the University of Texas’ M.D. Anderson Cancer Institute. He retired from M.D. Anderson in August 2003 after 30 years and 6 months. He began his second career as a professor in the Statistical Department at Baylor University in September 2003. Dennis had a passion for teaching, which started with teaching calculus and statistics to UT medical students and at Rice University. Dennis retired from teaching in the fall of 2020.

The move to Waco brought the “Music Man” and his talents to Antioch Community Church. He loved to sing the gospel to children. Dennis renewed his faith in Christ and the Lord in 1976. He was a compassionate and generous man. He supported his children in sports, scouting, and educational pursuits. Following the death of his daughter, Carolynne D’Ann, in 1986, he opened his home to eighty-six foster children between 1987 and 1998. He would invite international students to his home for holiday celebrations, which he continued to do at Baylor. He took the Lord’s message to Ireland and Japan on mission trips with Antioch and enjoyed fellowship in his home with church members.

Dennis was predeceased by his daughter but lives on in the cherished memories of his loving and devoted wife, Janice; son, Chris and ex-wife Amy; son, Steven and wife Eliza, and granddaughter, Adelia; Janice’s brother James and his family in Colorado; Janice’s niece Melissa and her family in Massachusetts, and his many neighbors, friends, past students, and colleagues in Waco, Houston and around the world. We have been blessed to know Dennis, been blessed by Dennis, and will forever kindle his spirit within our hearts. Dennis, we pray on this new path before you, may you always walk in the light of the sun, find shelter in the warmth of the Lord, and leave everlasting footsteps in the sand that we may follow.