Johnny Estis still going strong at 80, repairing broken TVs, other electronics
By Ellen E. Williams Special to The Democrat

Johnny Estis

Johnny Estis, owner of Estis Radio & TV Service of Grove Hill, first began working on televisions in 1952 while serving in the United States Army at Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland.

He returned to Clarke County in December 1952 and began working in a hardware store in his hometown of Coffeeville, owned by Charles Roberts.

Estis would stay at the store after business hours and work on televisions and radios. "It was mostly radios during that time," he said.

A couple of years later he opened his own shop in Coffeeville, in the former barber shop next door to Bumpers Service Station.

In 1958 he went to work with Barfield Furniture Company in Grove Hill, repairing televisions. Four years later he opened his own business in the McGowin building and in 1963 he moved his business to the building owned by J.B. Porter, next door to Porter's Cleaners.

Porter leased the building to Nolen Bryant and Jesse Ray Jordan ran the cleaners at that time. Jordan eventually bought the building and Estis continued to rent from him, and after Jordan passed away, from his daughter Karen Brooks.

Estis worked on televisions, radios, record players, eight tracks and from time to time small appliances. For years he would make house calls, repairing televisions and radios and putting up antennas.

In addition to working every day, Estis was also raising three small children, ages six, three and a one-year-old. Once they were grown he also helped raise his grandchildren.

After 44 years of working in the building next to the dry cleaners, Estis has decided to move his business to his home on Highway 84 West.

"Moving in was easy compared to moving out. It was hard moving 44 years of work out of one building. My last day, Jan. 20 was hard. too," he said.

When asked about the move he said he was glad. "I'm proud to have my own place."

Even with the advancing technology, the business has slowed, but customers keep coming to Estis for help. "I'm 80-years-old and still going strong."

Ellen Williams is the daughter of Johnny Estis.

Reader Comments

Posted By Gary Joe Frith (2/2/2008 10:49 PM EDT):
I've known Johnny my whole life, and hard working is his life. He's a great person. I hope he's blessed with many more years.

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