Arvin Jay Byington

Layton, Utah – Arvin Jay (A.J.) Byington, beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and friend has returned home to his loving wife, Kathy and Father in Heaven.  On Tuesday, May 10, 2022 he succumbed to respiratory failure caused by complications with immunotherapy and lung cancer.

A.J. was born January 5, 1945 in Ogden, Utah to Floyd Wood and Gwendola Owens Byington.  He was raised in Ogden with five siblings and graduated from Ogden High School Class of 1963.

A.J. loved to sing and throughout his life was involved in choir, band, mountain man rendezvous, leather and bead work.  He belonged to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He was called to serve in the Calgary, Canada mission.

On May 20, 1965 he joined the Navy where he earned the rank of Aviation Electrician Mate 2^nd Class (E-5) and he hated working with electricity until the day he passed.  After the Navy he went on to dedicate his life to protecting and serving the communities he lived in with respect and dignity as a sheriff and police officer.  He was always willing to give his all helping others and lend a hand for labor, an ear to listen, or shoulder to cry on when ever and wherever he was needed.

He married four times, first to Julia Ann (Judy) Clark.  They were blessed with Sonja Ann Byington on January 31, 1973.  They later divorced.  He then met and married Helen Elaine Marble-Dunlap where he stepped in as a father and mentor to Richard Paul Dunlap, October 19, 1970.  A.J. and Helen were blessed with Shawn Eric Byington on May 25, 1982.  They later divorced.

After several years A.J. had a short marriage to C.J. that ended in divorce as well.  A.J. kept good friendships with both mothers of his children.  Finally he met the love of his life, Kathleen Joanne Widdifield-Nagle whom he proposed to on their very first date.  She had three children from a previous marriage, Amy Carol Benavidez, Phillip Andrew Mallory and Shannon Heather Chanvert.

A.J. has five siblings four of which preceded him in death.  Leoneen Byington, Carlyle Byington, Aloma Blaylock and Darla Byington.  He has one surviving brother, Floyd D. Byington.

A.J.’s grandchildren are (Sonja) Austin, Dalton, Logun, (Shawn) Josslyn, Oakley (Richard) Kelsey, Savannah, Isaac, Mochi, Anthony, Miya, (Phillip) Samantha (Amy) Lacie, Brandon, Deven, (Shannon) Brittany, Ashley, McKenzie and one great-grandchild, (Sonja) Logun Roy.

A viewing will be held at Tuesday, May 17, 2022 from 9:45 to 10:45 AM at Russon Mortuary, 1941 North Main Street, Farmington, Utah.  Services will follow the visitation beginning at 11:00 AM.

Services will be live streamed on the Russon Mortuary & Crematory Facebook page and will be posted below about 10 to 15 minutes prior to service start time.

Graveside services will be held Friday, May 20, 2022 at the San Juaquin Valley National Cemetery, 32053 McCabe Road, Santa Nella, California.