Winford Melvin Barrus

Tremonton, Utah - Our dear father, grandfather and great grandfather, Winford Melvin Barrus, returned home to his beloved Father in Heaven on July 18, 2005. We know he was welcomed into the loving arms of his eternal sweetheart, Orlean, who he has missed so much during the past two years. This glad reunion also included his mother, Zina and father, Ruel Melvin, his beloved little brother LaVern, and two sisters, Leola and Verla who had preceded him in death. Winford was born July 30, 1912 in Groveland, Bingham, Idaho. He has five sisters and three brothers and was reared in the farming community of Groveland, Idaho. He worked on the family farm as he grew up and was a great help to his family as they struggled to make a living from their farm. Winford attended Utah State University from 1932 - 1936 where he was a member of the USU track team and graduated with a BS degree in Civil Engineering. Winford married Orlean Hodges on February 25, 1937 in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple. They were blessed with six children: Melvin Beth, Emma Jean Bryan Larsen, Hunter Janice, Jodie Soni, Marilyn Ronald Taylor, and Timothy Cleo. They have 31 grand children, 77 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren. After graduating from USU he worked a short time for the U.S. Government Resettlement Agency. The rest of his working career was with the Utah-Idaho Sugar Company as manager of the canal system, which later became the Bear River Canal Company. Winford retired from the Canal Company in 1975. He was also a licensed surveyor in Utah and operated his private surveying business until he was eighty years old. He had the reputation of being a fair and honest businessman. With his wife Orlean they owned and operated the Drapery Center where he was the master installer of Orlean's many drapery creations. Winford was very active in his church serving as ward clerk in several bishoprics, as scoutmaster, and a faithful home teacher. He was bishop of the Deweyville ward from 1952 ? 1957. In 1977 to 1978, Winford and Orlean served as full-time, proselyting missionaries to the Washington Seattle Mission. Later they served as temple workers in the Logan, Utah LDS Temple. Winford loved family activities, singing, dancing, attending his church meetings, and reading the Book of Mormon. He was a patient man, kind and loving, slow to anger, and careful to judge. He will be greatly missed by his family and all who knew him. Winford is survived by his six children, three sisters, Lillian Nelsen, Rosalie Campbell, and Delsa Campbell and two brothers Ruel and Neil, all grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 23, 2005 at the Deweyville/Riverview Ward Chapel located at 10750 North Highway 38, Deweyville, Utah with his son, Bishop Hunter Barrus, presiding. There will be a viewing from 6:00 ? 8:00 p.m. on Friday, July 22, 2005 at Rogers and Taylor Funeral Home located at 111 North 100 East, Tremonton, Utah and also from 9:30 ? 10:30 a.m. at the church preceding the funeral services. The family expresses sincere thanks to the wonderful caregivers and volunteers at the Bear River Valley Care Center for their love and dedicated caring service given to Winford during his stay.