Our exemplary husband, brother, father, and grandfather, Paul R Finlinson, 82, of Fool Creek, Utah passed away peacefully in the home of his birth surrounded by his wife and 8 children on October 25, 2012. Pop was born in Fool Creek, Utah on May 11, 1930 to Ray and Frankie Roper Finlinson. He was raised in both Oak City and Fool Creek. He graduated from Delta High School in 1948. During his high school years, he was captain of the football team and received the Golden H. Black Award for athletic excellence. He then went on to attend college and play football at Branch Agricultural College, (currently SUU) Cedar City, UT, Mesa College, Grand Junction, CO, and Brigham Young University, Provo, UT. He graduated from BYU with a BS in Animal Husbandry in 1961.
Pop served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in American Samoa from 1950 to 1953. Upon returning from Samoa, he was inducted into the United States Army. He served in Germany during the Korean conflict until 1955.
He met “the lovely girl” Joyce Echols in May of 1958 at BYU. They were married in the Mesa Arizona Temple on December 27th, 1958. After graduation, Mom and Pop settled in Fool Creek where they pursued their livelihood of farming and ranching. Together they raised 8 children who have been, according to Pop: “A great deal of satisfaction and happiness to us.”
Pop is survived by his wife, Joyce, of 54 years, son Flint (Freda), of St. Louis, MO, son Rock (Vickie), of Ogden, UT, daughter Sandy (Woody-deceased), of Pleasant Grove, UT, son Shawn (Shiela), of Fool Creek, UT, son Shann (Deena), of Fool Creek, UT, daughter Rayan, of Hurricane, UT, son Denver (Shonnie), of Kansas City, MO, son Rust (Barbara), of Nephi, UT, 29 grandchildren, a sister Norine Shipley, of Riverton, UT, and brothers Bryce Finlinson, of Fool Creek, UT, and Garth Finlinson, of Oak City, UT.
He was preceded in death by his parents Ray and Frankie Roper Finlinson, brothers Burnis, Reece, Raymond, Phil and Julian, sister Georgia Whatcott, son-in-law Woody Morton, and several beloved horses.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 3, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. in the Leamington LDS Ward Chapel, Leamington Utah. A viewing will also be held at the Ward building, Friday evening, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and on Saturday, prior to services, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Interment will follow at the Leamington Cemetery. Online condolence at www.rasmussenmortuary.com A special thanks to our sisters Sandy Morton RN and Rayan Finlinson RN, for their loving care of Pop.