Grant Robert (Bob) Murdoch
March 10, 1924 – May 6, 2022
“God Be With You Until We Meet Again”
Our beloved father, grandfather, great grandfather and great-great grandfather, Bob Murdoch passed away peacefully May 6th, 2022, at the youthful age of 98 years old.
Bob was born on March 10th, 1924, to William Wallace Murdoch and Myrtle Hardwick Cartwright Murdoch. He attended Uintah Elementary, Roosevelt Junior High and East High School.
Bob was proud of his heritage. His grandparents and great grandparents were true pioneers immigrating from Scotland and England. They came over with the Martin Handcart Company and over in wagon trains with the saints. His father and grandfather worked with Mr. Newhouse in the Newhouse building and his mother Myrtle was known for her compassion. Bob said his example of service came from his loving parents. As his family did better than most during the great depression it was widely known to go to Mrs. Murdoch’s for a hot meal during these challenging times.
He was married to his beloved sweetheart Vera Dolores Reeve Murdoch for 70 years. They were married May 12, 1945, on Treasure Island, near San Francisco while Bob was stationed in the Navy. Bob and Dolores were sealed for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple on May 12, 1952, their 7th Anniversary.
A true American Patriot, Bob served in US Navy during the end of World War II. He was stationed in Toyoko when the Peace Treaty with Japan was signed. He started off as a Radio Technician, retiring with the Naval Reserves in the Seabees for over 30 years as a Naval Lieutenant Commander.
After World War II, He would earn his bachelor’s degree at the University of Utah as a civil engineer. He would have a career with The Bureau of Reclamation for over thirty years designing better water dams, canals, irrigation systems and reservoirs. He later joined Schick International Inc. He was most proud of the work he did for them in 1978 when in he lived and worked in India and Sri Lanka for a year designing and providing clean and sustainable water irrigation systems for their people. Bob and Dolores grew to love the people of India, going on to sponsor international students from India through the University of Utah.
Bob was a devoted life-long member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He loved the gospel and believed in the power of service. He served in various callings in his lifetime such as High Priest Group Leader, Ward Clerk to a councilor in the Bishopric. He found extraordinary joy in providing service especially to those in need, whether it was the widows, the primary and the homeless shelter.
Bob loved skiing. He learned to ski at five years old in his backyard. He then would ski on 13th South until Alta’s opening day in 1938 when all they had was a rope tow. From that day forward, he was a devoted Alta skier. Bob was happily skiing until the age of ninety-seven. Alta loved him just as much, naming two runs after him. He was part of the ski group called the Wild Old Bunch.
He is proceeded in death by his eternal companion Dolores; parents William and Myrtle, Brother Wally; Sisters Lucille, Virginia, and Grace. He is survived by his children: Steven (Wendell) of Reno, Nevada; Kathleen (Terry) of Sandy, Utah; Linda of Park City, Utah; Gary (Cindy) of Sandy, Utah; and Charlene (Ron) of St. George, Utah. He had seven grandchildren: Ben, Josh, Ashley, Heather, Dustin, Marlo, and Whitney. He had eighteen great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.
The family would like to thank his Church family, friends, neighbors, Alta and especially the Alta Wild Old Bunch for their love and friendship.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, May 12, 2022, on what would have been his 77th wedding anniversary at 11:00 am in The Larkin Sunset Lawn Chapel, 2350 East 1300 South, where a viewing will be held Thursday from 9:00- 10:30 am prior to the service. Interment will follow after the service at Larkin Sunset Lawn Cemetery. Online condolences: www.larkincares.com
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Published by The Salt Lake Tribune from May 10 to May 12, 2022.
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