From Deseret News archives:
Centenarian riding high
Utahn soars 2,500 feet in hot air balloon to mark her 100th
This is the era in which Lorna Phillips of Salt Lake City was born.
Today she becomes a centenarian — and she already celebrated her birthday in high style.
Phillips stepped inside the basket of a hot air balloon during the early morning hours Thursday at the Heber City airport. Decked out in her Roots hat, she waved to onlookers as she prepared to ascend nearly 2,500 feet.
"It was terrific," she said. "It was a very great sensation and a beautiful view of the whole valley."
Phillips was accompanied to Heber by members of her family and a busload of friends from the Highland Cove assisted living center, where she lives.
A hot air balloon ride, however, was not Phillips' original idea of how she wanted to celebrate her birthday.
One day she was talking to a friend and said she would like to hang glide off the side of a mountain.
"My daughter said, 'No way!'" she said, laughing.
Phillips said she is happy with the life she has lived and has many good memories of things she has done.
Her late husband, Jennings Phillips, was a former Salt Lake City commissioner and a reporter when he first came to Utah. They have two children, four grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
"He would be quite interested in knowing that I made the news," she said.
Phillips was born in Brigham City and grew up in North Promontory. As a schoolgirl, she remembers she had to walk two miles to her first two grades of school.
"Maybe that is why my health is so good," she said.
Other fond memories include her first time in an automobile. She recalls it was a Studebaker.
More than automobiles, Phillips enjoyed riding horses everywhere.
Nowadays, she enjoys watching the Utah Jazz.
"I was a little disgusted with them last year," Phillips said.
This year she hopes it will be different.
Phillips goes to one or two games a season but mostly watches from home "because you get a better view and can hear."
It has only been a few years since she stopped bowling with the Catholic Women's League. She also spent many years volunteering at Holy Cross Hospital.
"I have to admit I have had a fun life," she said. "I have made it fun."
E-mail: blee@desnews.com
