Eldon McArthur

1920 ~ 2012
ST. GEORGE, UT-Eldon McArthur, age 91, passed away at home from causes incident to age on April 6, 2012. Eldon was born in St. George on November 1, 1920 to Moroni and Emma Jarvis Cottam McArthur as the eighth child and fourth son of a family of six boys and four girls. He attended St. George Schools and graduated from Dixie High School in 1939 where he was active in sports and drama. As a Dixie College student he studied vocational arts and lettered in football. He married his life's love Denise Dalton on June 18, 1940 in the St. George LDS Temple. After Eldon's LDS Southern States Mission in Alabama, the young couple and their growing family lived in St. George, Salt Lake City, Seattle WA, and Mineral Wells TX as Eldon provided for his family and worked in shipyards and served in the U.S. Army for the World War II effort. They returned home to St. George in 1945 where Eldon built the family home. Eight children were born into the family. Eldon was a devoted husband and father. His exemplary love and care for his wife is evidenced by his sensitive care for her through three major open heart surgeries and placing her needs above all other priorities. He and his wife taught their children to be productive, contributing members of society through precept and example and involving them in family activities including work at home and helping him with his professional work; providing recreational undertakings like hunting, fishing, camping, and traveling; and by fully supporting them in school, sports, clubs, church, and other pastimes.
Eldon's multifaceted skills are evident in the jobs that he has worked and the hobbies that he cultivated. He first began welding in 1942 and eventually established McArthur Welding, a firm that continues with three of his sons, other family members, and additional employees. In addition he has been a baker, a plasterer, a real estate appraiser, a high school and college teacher, a river running crewman, a Veteran's Administration on-the-job coordinator, and a heavy equipment operator-often multi-tasking these jobs. Other principal interests and activities in his full and busy life include service in Rotary International where he has held the offices of St. George Club President, Utah District Governor, as well as many other assignments and perfect club attendance for 37 years; Civil Air Patrol Chaplain and searcher; Dixie High School Spanish Club travel chaperon (25 years); LDS Church leader (branch, ward and stake), teacher, temple worker; traveled often with his wife to Europe, Mexico, Central America, the South Pacific, the Middle East, Japan, Alaska; baking bread (along with scones almost every Saturday for many years and recognized as superb by county fair judges), cinnamon rolls, cookies, and making candy; big and small game hunting, lapidary work; music including singing to his family and in groups and listening to classical and other music; fishing including deep sea fishing; two-term city council member of St. George City; piloting airplanes; and water witching. His life work has been recognized by the St. George Area Chamber of Commerce Business Integrity Award and the Dixie College Distinguished Service Award among other honors.
Eldon was preceded in death by his parents, wife (August 21, 2000), sisters Nellie Gubler, Florence Leavitt, and Fern Hafen; brothers Willard, Rex, Irvin, Ross and Tom. He is survived by his sister Annie Jennings, sister-in-law Mae McArthur, and eight children. Eldon Durant (Virginia), St. George; Janice (Bruce Hepworth), Hurricane; Allene Price, Big Piney, WY; Daniel Dalton (Bunny), St. George; Samuel James (Gai), St. George; Marianne (Douglas Barton), Manti; Kim (Hayven Dunn), Annabella; and Joseph Duncan (Michelle), St. George; and by 50 grandchildren and 90 great-grandchildren.
Funeral Services will be held Friday, April 13 at 11:00 a.m. at the St. George Sixth Ward Chapel (4th East, 1st South). Viewing will be Thursday evening, April 12, from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Spilsbury Mortuary (110 South Bluff Street) and an hour and a half prior to the services at the chapel. Burial will be in the St. George City Cemetery.
Arrangements are under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, St. George, UT (673-2454). Family and friends are invited to sign his guest book at
www.spilsburymortuary.com.