The start to 2015 isn’t just another new year for Preston Lawrence “Larry” Johnson.

It marks the 100th birthday for the Oak Harbor resident, which he will celebrate Saturday, Jan. 3

Living on Whidbey Island for about 10 years, Johnson will be celebrating not only with many friends and neighbors, but the gathering will bring together five generations of family.

“He’s got four children, and all four are coming, and their children are coming,” said daughter Jacolyn Stadler.

Before Johnson joined the Army, Stadler said he worked with the Civilian Conservation Corps in Yosemite.

Back then, she said, there was a rule where someone could only work for a year with the CCC. Stadler said that after her father’s year was up, he left the CCC and went back, using his brother’s name.

With the CCC, Johnson spent two years helping the public work relief program build roads. After that, he joined the Army and was deployed to Japan, where he was a member of the only flame-throwing tank battalion, according to Stadler.

After he returned to the states, he met and married his wife Shirley.

“He married my mom after only seeing her once,” Stadler said. “They wrote each other for a year, and then met each other and married two weeks later.”

Stadler said that their union came about because Johnson’s first wife, also named Jacolyn, never wrote back to him while he was deployed in the Army. Her roommate, Johnson’s future wife, wrote instead, and they fell in love. They married soon after his return, and had four children: Russel, David, Jacolyn and Jo.

About 10 years ago, Johnson and his wife moved to Whidbey Island. When Shirley passed away, Johnson moved in with Stadler in Oak Harbor.

Much of Johnson’s retirement was spent fishing or golfing, until he lost much of his sight.

But that won’t stop him from having a good time celebrating 100 years Saturday.

“It’s going to be a big party,” Johnson said. “I think it is, anyway.

“I just have to wait and see.”