Vernal Hyrum Johnson will celebrate his 100th birthday with an open house for friends and family from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 16, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Highland Ward Cultural Hall, 27th Street and Tyler Avenue, Ogden.?Born on Jan. 15, 1910, in Henefer to Hyrum and Gertrude Stephens Johnson, he moved to Ogden and graduated from Ogden High School in 1927. He served a German-Austrian LDS mission, graduated from the University of Utah and Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago, and was an obstetrician/gynecologist for more than 40 years. He also served as a flight surgeon in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. In 1939 he married Athleen Farr Budge. His children are Dr. Val Budge and Suzan Johnson, Dr. Steve Farr and Jayne Johnson, Dr. Dean Budge Johnson, and Joyce and Rob Stillwell. He has nine grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. His wife died before their 64th wedding anniversary in June 2003.?His interests include piano and organ. He served 49 years as ward organist. His handcrafted jewelry is locally renowned. He volunteered nearly 30 years with the Golden Spike Gem & Mineral Association. He now guides visitors at the Ogden Dinosaur Park Museum. He is the ranking elder member of the Ogden Exchange Club. He skied last January on his 99th birthday at Snow Basin with friends and four generations of Johnsons. He golfed until he could no longer see the ball.

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