Ralph Joseph Johnson


Ralph Joseph Johnson 1914 ~ 2009 On April 21, at the age of 94, Ralph passed
away in Rio Verde, Arizona. During the last year of his life he was living
with his daughter Jolene who cared for him with tender loving and
professional nursing care.He was born on August 24, 1914 in Midway, Utah, to
Nels Joseph Johnson and Mary Ann Orgill. A graduate of Wasatch High School,
he married Fawn Clyde, his high school sweetheart, in September 1932. They
lived in Heber City until 1944 when he moved his family to Long Beach,
California to work in the ship-building industry during the war. Returning
to Utah, he took over his father's business, the Johnson Milling Company, a
water-powered grist mill which his father had owned and operated since 1898.
Later he owned a fleet of semi trucks which he operated between Utah and
California. He retired in 1990 from the trucking business after a working
career of 58 years. As a teenager Ralph showed musical talent and became an
accomplished trumpet player in his high school band which won many awards in
state musical competitions. He was frequently featured as soloist at band
concerts. He passed on his musical gifts to his children, grandchildren, and
great-grandchildren. He was an avid traveler and had visited every state in
the union on business and for pleasure. He traveled throughout Europe, the
Caribbean, Mexico, Egypt, Israel, Peru, Chile, Brazil, the Panama Canal, and
Kenya in Africa. He also drove a truck over the Alaskan highway twice, the
first time while it was still under construction. He was a member of the
East Mill Creek 7th Ward in Salt Lake City, where he was an active
participant in church life. He served two missions with his wife Fawn: in
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and on St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands; in 1982,
they served in Mesa, Arizona at the Temple Visitors Center. A family man,
Ralph took pleasure throughout his life in the accomplishments of his
children and grand-children. He was blessed with a wonderful memory which
remained clear and lucid until the end of life. He was a role model for many
in the family, and will be kept lovingly in the memory of his large and
diverse family. He is survived by three living children: Dale Ralph Johnson
of Santa Cruz, California; Jolene Chou Davidson of Rio Verde, Arizona; and
Diane Hunt of St. George, Utah. His wife and two sons preceded him in death:
Norman Clyde Johnson, Flagstaff, Arizona; and Vaughn Paul Johnson of
Glendale, Arizona. He has 18 grandchildren, 45 great grandchildren, and six
great-great grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on
Saturday, April 25, 2009 at the East Millcreek 7th Ward, 3408 S Celeste Way
(3120 E), Salt Lake City, UT. Family and friends are invited to visit from
6:00-8:00 p.m. on Friday, April 24 at Heber North Stake Center, 550 E. 500
N., in Heber, and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. prior to the
services at the East Millcreek LDS 7th Ward building. Interment will be in
the Heber City Cemetery. Arrangements in care of Olpin-Hoopes Funeral Home.
Condolences may be sent to www.olpinhoopes.com