Rulon Boyd Maughan

Rulon Boyd Maughan, 94, passed away peacefully on Sunday evening, October 9, 2022 in St. George, UT. Our beloved patriarch was faithful and positive to the end, and leaves behind a family that mourns his passing but rejoices in the reunions that await him.

The second child of Rulon Baxter and Geneva Lee Maughan, Boyd was born in Springville, Utah on December 23, 1927. When he was young, the family relocated back to Cache Valley, and moved into the home his grandfather built on a 1 acre lot on the corner of Main and Center in Wellsville. There, Boyd had the perfect small town upbringing with siblings Frances, Zoe & Peter, along with close cousins and childhood buddies who became lifelong friends. Boyd graduated from South Cache High in Hyrum in 1946, and immediately after high school he joined the Marine Corps and served his country at Camp Pendleton where he earned his WW II Service Medal. After his service, he returned to Utah State Agricultural College where he was active in Air Force ROTC and met a farm girl from Lewiston, Mary Lower. The couple, from opposite ends of the valley, began courting and Boyd & Mary were married on October 25, 1950 in the Logan Temple.

Boyd was commissioned a Lieutenant in the USAF and assigned to Germany, where their first child, Michael Boyd, was born. After his return to the states and civilian life, the family lived in Ogden, Hyde Park and Boise, during which time four daughters, Marilyn, Lisa, Susan & Jayne joined the family. Returning to a career in the USAF, Boyd was assigned to air bases in New York and Wyoming. He graduated from the University of Wyoming with a degree in electrical engineering. During his Air Force career he developed and managed classified radar systems and was vice-commander for the USAF space shuttle site at Vandenberg AFB. USAF moves included Texas, England, California, New Mexico and Florida. Wherever they were stationed, Boyd & Mary made friends that lasted a lifetime. They always kept an exceptional yard and won many beautification awards on the USAF bases where they lived. Boyd retired as a Lt. Col in 1979 and began working as an engineer for Rockwell International in their space shuttle division in California.

After his retirement in 1992, he and Mary moved back to Cache Valley to be closer to family. They built a beautiful home on the east bench in Logan where Dad could enjoy a view of the mighty Wellsville Mountains each day. Boyd and Mary loved their neighborhood, gardening, making new friends, and continued to travel, seeing much of the world together. England remained one of Boyd & Mary’s favorite places to visit and they often spent an entire month touring Great Britain.

As members of the LDS church, Boyd & Mary threw themselves into all their LDS wards and served faithfully in ward and stake callings. Boyd was a dedicated home teacher; serving with the Santa Maria CA Stake Presidency was especially rewarding for him. He & Mary served a senior mission to the Indiana Indianapolis Mission and upon return was assigned to serve in the Logan Institute of Religion for special needs students. Boyd always loved to share his testimony of Jesus Christ and was thrilled to see his grandchildren and even great-grandchildren serve missions.

Boyd was a devoted husband to Mary and set a wonderful example of selflessness to his children and grandchildren. In 2010, Mary suddenly passed away after nearly 60 years of marriage. Without Mary, the house was too quiet for him and he decided to move to Ogden to live with his daughter, Susan & her husband, Doug Clark. He loved his calling as an ordinance worker in the Ogden Temple. In 2016, at age 88, Boyd became a permanent snow-bird and built a beautiful new home with a view in St. George, where he enjoyed many visits from friends and family. He was well known at the St. George Temple and often spent 3 or more days a week there. He loved to hike in Snow Canyon, had robust health and a positive outlook, and was looking forward to many more happy years in St. George. In June 30, 2021, Boyd married Joyce Thatcher Webb on her 90th birthday. Joyce was loving and caring and brought much joy into his life.

Boyd’s passing leaves behind his dear wife, Joyce, and his five children and their spouses, Michael & Lynn Maughan, Mapleton; Marilyn & David Watts, Logan; Lisa & Rod Ellis, River Heights; Susan & Doug Clark, South Ogden; and Jayne & Bill Sinykin, Smithfield. He is survived by 18 grandchildren and 61 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Frances Gooley, his brother and his wife, Peter K. & Judy Maughan, two sisters-in-law, Helen Lower Simmons and Dianne Lower, and many cousins, nieces & nephews. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Mary Lower Maughan; his parents, Geneva & Rulon Maughan; a missionary grandson while serving in Brazil, Elder Robby Clark; a granddaughter, Andrea Watts Saxton; his sister, Zoe Maughan Nielsen, and a niece, Lee Gooley Martin.

Funeral services for Boyd will be held on Saturday, October 15 at noon at the River Heights 3rd Ward Meetinghouse (465 North 300 East, Providence, Utah). A viewing will be held prior to the services on Saturday, beginning at 10 a.m until 11:45 a.m. Burial with military honors will be in the Providence City Cemetery, located along 10th East in River Heights.

Funeral services will be under the direction of Allen-Hall Mortuary. Condolences and memories may be shared online at www.allenmortuaries.net .

The family would like to express our sincere appreciation to all those who have befriended or cared for our father over the years, especially in the final months of his life.