Charles Edward Johnson

Charles Edward Johnson, known as Ed to his family and Charlie to his friends, passed away peacefully at the age of 94 on August 25, 2025, in Fruit Heights, Utah. A beloved grandfather, father, and favorite uncle, Ed is now joyfully reunited with his eternal sweetheart, Ruth McArthur, who preceded him in death by 20 months. His love for her was profound, and we find comfort knowing they are together again.

Born on March 10, 1931, in Richmond, Utah, to Ernest and Ruby Johnson, Ed was the second youngest of eight siblings, with six brothers and one sister. He graduated from North Cache High School in 1949 and met Ruth on a blind date, a moment that sparked a lifelong love. They were sealed in the Logan Utah Temple on February 4, 1955.

Ed’s distinguished career in the U.S. Air Force spanned multiple stations, including Sunset and Clearfield, Utah; Zaragoza, Spain; Austin, Texas; Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Tacoma, Washington. He served internationally in Guam, Spain, Korea, and Thailand as a special investigator, achieving the rank of Master Chief—the youngest in the Air Force at the time. An outstanding athlete, Ed was selected to compete in the worldwide Air Force basketball tournament, renowned for his ambidextrous shooting and flawless foul shots.

After retiring from the Air Force, Ed’s entrepreneurial spirit led him to start several businesses, primarily in food service and brokerage. Alongside his brother Richard, he opened Cedar Breaks, a restaurant and reception center, and CJ’s Drive-In, both in Cache Valley, Utah. His generosity shone through as he provided countless meals for ward parties, family reunions, and gatherings with friends and family.

Ed and Ruth raised their family in Smithfield, Nibley, and finally Fruit Heights, Utah, where they lived for nearly 35 years. They were blessed with six children: Karen (Paul Christensen) of Burley, ID; Susan (Alex Baugh) of Highland, UT; Kelly Stephen (Darcie Durrant) of Salt Lake City, UT; Kenneth Charles (Marilyn Davis) of Boise, ID; Angela Gibbs of Kaysville, UT; and Jana (Clark Jones) of Fruit Heights, UT. Ed was a proud grandfather to 28 grandchildren, 59 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his beloved Ruth, his parents, his six brothers and one sister, and his grandson, Christopher Gibbs.

A man of diverse passions, Ed was an avid outdoorsman who loved fishing, hunting, boating, and raising Appaloosa horses. His inventive spirit led him to create everything from a fishing pole door handle for an old truck to a shed he proudly built without a level—still standing strong. He was a skilled problem-solver, fixing irrigation systems and offering wise counsel to his children and grandchildren. Ed served as a Bishop in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as mayor of Nibley, Utah, and worked alongside Ruth in the Bountiful Utah Temple. His wife proudly declared him “the best basketball player in the world—forty points, every game!”

In his final years, Ed lived with his youngest daughter, Jana, and her family in Fruit Heights. He cherished visits from his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and spent hours playing card games with his brother Richard. Always ready to share building tips or inventive ideas, Ed sketched designs in his notepad, envisioning projects fully realized in his mind.

Charles Edward Johnson’s countless awards and accomplishments need not be listed, for his true legacy lies in the lives he touched. His kindness, ambition, and faith inspired friends and family to be kinder, reach higher, and strive to be better. We rejoice in the knowledge that Ed has been welcomed into a joyous reunion with his beloved Ruth, family, and friends.

A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, August 30, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Lindquist’s Layton Mortuary, 1867 N. Fairfield, Rd, Layton, Utah. Friends may visit with family prior to services from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 am.at the mortuary. In honor of Ed, the family hopes you will do a kind deed or service for a friend or family member.