Darwin Kay Wolford

1936 - 2023

Darwin K. Wolford passed away peacefully at his home in Rexburg Idaho on November 4, 2023, from causes incident to age. Darwin was born on October 19, 1936 in Logan, UT to Harry Lloyd and Lucille Lamoreaux Wolford. He was the youngest of 4 children.

As a young child, he was always fascinated with the piano and the sound of the organ. He began taking music lessons at a young age and studied under renowned musicians such as Irving Wassermann, Robert Cundick, Dr. Leroy Robertson, and Alexander Schreiner. He studied at Utah State University where he Completed BA in Organ and Composition in 1960. He continued is educational pursuits and completed a master's degree in 1963 and a Ph.D in 1967 both from the University of Utah. His doctoral dissertation for his Ph.D was his own Symphony No. 1 which was performed by the Utah Symphony. After completion of his Ph.D he continued his studies with Ned Rorem and John LaMontaine who were both visiting composers and both were recipients of Pulitzer Prizes.

At the age of 19,he was called to be a traveling representative for the General Music Committee of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He traveled to approximately 200 stakes of the church throughout the west to teach organ and conducting classes. These stakes were throughout Idaho, Utah, Oregon, Wyoming, New Mexico, Arizona and Nevada.

In 1967, Darwin joined the Music Department at Ricks College (now BYU-Idaho) where he taught organ and music theory & composition until his retirement in 2004. He loved his career, teaching, and composing.

While teaching, he met his future wife, Julie Ann Lofgren of Missoula, Montana. They were married May 13, 1969 in the Logan Utah LDS Temple. Their first child, Christopher Lloyd, passed away from SIDS at the age of 4 months. They later went on to have 4 more children; Paul, Annalee, Andrew, and Sarah.

Darwin and Julie loved great music. Their favorite composers were Brahms, Beethoven, Bach, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, and Rachmaninoff (to name a few). He often said: "There is too much ugliness in the world. We must have beauty in our home and in our loves. Good music enlarges our souls."

As a member of the General Music Committee and also as a member of the Executive Hymnbook Committee that was responsible for the creation of the 1985 hymnal and the Children's Songbook. He composed two hymns included in the hymnbook and dozens of arrangements and compositions in the beloved Children's Songbook. He also arranged the Hosanna Anthem, which has been sung in every LDS temple dedication since the Tokyo temple which was dedicated in 1983.

Together, Darwin and Julie were the prime movers in the acquisition of the four-manual Ruffatti Organ in 1983 which is housed in the Ruth R. Barrus Concert Hall on the Campus of BYU-Idaho (formerly Ricks College).

Darwin enjoyed serving in the Church both in music and teaching capacities and later as an ordinance worker in the Rexburg LDS Temple. His love and devotion for Julie and their children continues on. He has now rejoined his parents, his two brothers and sister, and his precious little Christopher in the presence of his heavenly parents and Jesus Christ in their heavenly home. He now looks forward to a time of eternal joy when his loving companion Julie, each child, grandchild, and great-grandchild returns to complete the family circle.

Darwin is survived by his wife Julie, and his children Paul (Becky) of Farmington Utah, Annalee (Joseph) of Idaho Falls, Andrew (Amber) and Sarah - both of Rexburg Idaho. On behalf of the Wolford Family, we wish to express our love and thankfulness for all who cared for him during the last year of his life. This includes his wife Julie and his daughter Sarah who both cared for him until the time of his death. Additionally, we thank the many friends and neighbors who have served him and the team from Aspen Healthcare, which includes his hospice nurse Krystal Martindale.

Funeral services will be held Friday, November 10th, 2023 at 11:00 AM in the Rexburg Idaho North Stake Center located at 314 East 2nd North Street in Rexburg. A viewing will be held on Thursday evening at Flamm Funeral Home in Rexburg from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. and again Friday from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. at the church prior to services.