Alvin Harold Price

Alvin Harold Price, 1935-2021, was a superstar Grandpa, loyal friend, devoted brother, incredible father, and loving partner and husband to Barbara, his wife of 62 years.

Alvin was born on March 30, 1935 to Harold Harmon Price and Hazel Ruth Sewell in Logan, Utah. He had a magical childhood that fostered curiosity, creative pursuits, and love of learning, all of which he carried throughout his life. As a boy, he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, earned 46 merit badges, and attended the National Boy Scout Jamboree in 1950. He was a graduate of Ogden High School where he played the trombone in the band and participated in other musical groups.

After high school, Alvin attended the University of Utah before leaving for the Eastern States Mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where he served primarily in New York City – he loved both the city and the people. Near the end of his mission, he participated in the Hill Cumorah Pageant, where he met Barbara Wagstaff, who was also participating in the Pageant. Upon returning home, Alvin transferred to Brigham Young University and pursued Barbara who was attending Utah State University. The two eventually married on July 31, 1959 and began their grand life adventure together.

After earning a degree in Early Childhood Education, Alvin moved to Kansas and eventually Minnesota with Barbara, where he earned his PhD in Child Development. During this time, he served in the Air National Guard. In 1966, Alvin and Barbara returned to Utah where they set down roots and would eventually raise four beautiful daughters.

Alvin was one of the founders of the National Head Start Program, which focused on early childhood education for disadvantaged children – still in place today. He joined and built a powerhouse Child Development and Family Relations department at Brigham Young University and taught there for 32 years. Alvin authored several books and hosted a television series on parenting and child development. He was a well-loved professor and was awarded the Karl G. Maeser Distinguished Teaching Award. Alvin was one of the early directors of BYU London Study Abroad – eventually leading many groups to England, Europe, the Holy Land, and Asia. Alvin loved people, cultures and traveling around the world, especially to visit his globetrotting grandchildren. He also loved the communities where he lived. He was civic-minded and ran for the Utah State Senate in 1996, chaired the Provo City Children’s Parade, and was on the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics Torch Relay committee.

He gave his all to his faith, serving as a BYU bishop four times; contributing to church writing committees, including the Young Women’s Personal Progress Program, and manuals for Relief Society and Temple Preparation; and served nine missions – including the Eastern States Mission, Romania, China, and Russia. His favorite calling was Nursery Leader. All along the way, he was partnering with Barbara – his best friend and companion. In Romania, he and Barbara, were instrumental in implementing the Special Olympics Program and advocating for orphans. In Vladivostok, he served as the Mission President. Later, he and Barbara were the Program Directors for the BYU China Teachers Program. They also served as hosts at Temple Square and the LDS Conference Center.

Alvin was known far and wide for his love of life, creativity, quick wit, and fierce loyalty – all of which he scattered with abundance. He loved to play games (Rummikub was his favorite), work on quilts, the rainbow quilt being his specialty, with his daughters and grandkids, and any other family project – no task was too small or great. He created hundreds of individualized Boggles and poems for loved ones to commemorate special milestones, which will be treasured forever. Alvin spent his entire life scattering service, love and joy like a modern-day Johnny Appleseed. His life was sublime and his legacy will endure and grow forever.

Alvin is survived by his wife Barbara Wagstaff; his four daughters, Becky (John) Edwards, Nicole (Steve Goldrup) Price, Cecilee (Steve) Price-Huish, and Camille (Gary) Johnson; his two sisters, Doris (David) Gillette, and Ruth (Craig) Anderson. He will be dearly missed by his 15 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his son Matthew Alvin Price, and his parents Harold Harmon and Hazel Sewell Price.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, September 11, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel located at 200 S. Eagle Ridge Drive, North Salt Lake, UT 84054, with a viewing at 8:30-10:00 a.m., and funeral at 10:30 a.m. Masks are required. Interment, Smithfield City Cemetery, 300 E. Center St., Smithfield, Utah.

The funeral can also be watched on Zoom at this link:

Al Price Funeral Service

Please click this URL to join. 

https://zoom.us/j/93928417912?pwd=ektYSDhoNENWdFl4U0xTRHFldGxEUT09

Passcode: Foxhill

—OR—

Webinar ID: 939 2841 7912

Passcode: Foxhill