Rulon Cluff

Rulon Walker Cluff returned to his Heavenly Father on January 21, 2026, at the age of 95. He was born on October 20, 1930, in Provo, Utah, at the Crane Maternity Home, the first of five children of Melba Walker and Colvin Sterling Cluff.

Dad met Joye Allred in 1945 in Provo, and they were married and sealed for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake City Temple on March 12, 1953, by Elder Legrand Richards. They were married for 72 years.

Dad loved his many years of service with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He served a mission in the Texas-Louisiana Mission from 1950 to 1952. He and Joye served two additional missions later in life: one as directors of the Joseph Smith Memorial Visitors Center in Sharon, Vermont, from 1990 to 1993, and another mission as counselor to the Mission President in the Latvia Riga Mission, residing in Tallinn, Estonia, from 1994 to 1996.

Other highlights include serving as a counselor in the Taylorsville Utah 8th Ward bishopric, and as a high counselor and in the stake presidency in the West Jordan Utah Stake. Dad loved serving as a temple worker at the Provo Utah Temple from 1996-2016.

Airplanes and all things aviation were some of Dad's greatest passions. He obtained his Commercial Pilot License in 1956 at the Provo, Utah Airport and was a Commercial Pilot and Instrument Flight Instructor from 1958 to 2000. He accumulated over 15,000 hours of flight time and was highly regarded as an excellent aviator.

In line with his passion for aviation, Dad was employed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) at the Salt Lake Air Route Traffic Control Center from 1958 to 1983, where he served as an Air Traffic Controller. He was subsequently employed by the University of Oklahoma at the FAA Air Traffic Control Academy as an instructor from 1983 to 1985. He managed flight operations for Wheeler Machinery Corp. from 1960 to 1970. He ended his aviation career as Chief Flight Instructor for Utah Valley University, doing what he loved most in aviation, sharing his expertise and teaching others how to fly.

Dad was drafted into the US Army in 1952 during the Korean War. He served his country proudly and with dedication. Soon after basic training, he attended Officer Candidate School and graduated as a commissioned 2nd Lieutenant with a branch assignment in Air Defense Artillery. After his active-duty service, he continued in various assignments with the Utah Army National Guard and the Army Reserves. He retired from his military service in 1981 at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Rulon is survived by his devoted wife Joye Allred Cluff; sister Carol Cutler; children Cynthia Joye Arnold (Kim), Rodney Cluff (Tawnya), Alan Cluff (Lonnie), Michael Cluff (Terri), and Cheryl Ann Cluff; as well as 22 grandchildren, 48 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by parents Melba Walker and Colvin Sterling Cluff; brothers Lloyd Cluff, Mark Cluff, and Lynn Cluff; and great-granddaughter Iris Grace Arnold.

The family wishes to extend special thanks to the staff at Ashford Assisted Living in Springville, as well as First Choice Hospice personnel, for their loving care. We especially thank our mother, Joye, for the constant, loving, and compassionate care during his final years.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 31, 2026, with a viewing from 9:30-10:45am and formal services at 11:00am at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Provo Utah Oak Hills Stake - 925 East North Temple Drive, Provo, Utah 84604.