DeWayne T Randall "Porky"

Taps sounded Monday, February 3, 2020, as 97 year old, DeWayne T Randall, aka “Porky”  passed away peacefully at home in Centerville of natural causes.  He was one of the last heroes of the “Greatest Generation”. 

DeWayne was born October 16, 1922 in Centerville, Utah to Alfred Woolley and Ada Rosetta (Tingey) Randall.  Raised in meager times, he was the middle son of seven boys and an infant sister that preceded him in death.  He was a graduate of Davis High, Class of 1940.  After graduating from high school, he became an aircraft mechanic and began working at Hill Air Force Base.

As WWII was raging, he enlisted in the Army Air Corp in 1943 and was assigned to the 60th Air Depot Group as an aircraft mechanic and parachute rigger. He was deployed to the Asiatic Pacific Theatre, New Guinea and several surrounding Islands.  He worked on the bombers during the day and packed parachutes at night.  He received orders to board a troop carrier headed for Japan when the nuclear bomb was dropped on Hiroshima.  Victory was declared, and sometime later arrived home on Christmas Eve 1945.  He was discharged from the Army Air Corp on in February 1946.  

In the fall of 1946, Pork attended Weber College and joined the Weber College Football team as a walk on.  As a guard at 5’4”, 185 lbs., his talents were recognized and he was made Co-Captain of the Wildcat team, 1946-1947.   In 1947, he played in the Rose Bowl game and also graduated from Weber College.

On November 23, 1948, he eloped to Elko, Nevada with Betty Jane Rigby.  He told no one but his father, only because he was short on cash.  His mother became worried when he did not come home that night so his Dad finally had to explain to her his whereabouts.  Pork and Betty had four daughters and were later sealed in the Salt Lake Temple, November 23, 1959. 

In the beginning, he provided for his family by driving tanker trucks and later becoming a diesel truck mechanic for MAC Truck.  He helped keep the equipment running during the process of building the Glen Canyon Dam near Page Arizona.  His dream however, was to own a fast food drive-in.  They opened Porky’s Milk Can and Family Drive-In, on Main Street Centerville, in 1971.  After a time, it was renamed Pork and Betty’s Place. The drive-in was renowned for his hand-dipped halibut fish and chips and fresh cut onion rings. They employed many of the local high school students.  He sold the business in 1985. 

Pork always had a large garden of tomatoes, corn, peaches, pumpkins and various other garden variety vegetables. Harvest time meant days of canning the fruits and vegetables.  He always generously shared the harvest with family and friends in the neighborhood.  

Porky was an icon in the City of Centerville.  Recognized by many, he was seen driving his green, 1948 Ford F-1 and in his later years riding his three-wheeled bike around the town.  In sunshine, rain or snow, he continued riding until one week before his death.

As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he served in various positions including a two year stake mission.  From 1999-2019, a span of twenty years, he served in the kitchen of the Bountiful Temple washing and shinning the pots and pans.  He was a man of very few words but expressed himself in so many other ways. He endured faithfully to the end, serving mankind whenever he saw a need.  His mission on earth can be capsulated by “well done thy good and faithful servant”.

A life so much more than a litany of facts; it was his character, his example and his service that was the validation of his life.  He lived a humble, simple, life that touched and influenced so many.  DeWayne had an astonishing work ethic and self-discipline that was like none other.   He had a profound duty to God, country and family leaving a legacy of faith, love for all and the courage to endure hard things. 

He is survived by brothers: Ronald Tingey Randall, Stanley Tingey Randall; children: Jenalee (James) Frazier, MarNell (Kenneth) Knight, Rhonda (Jeffrey) Naylor and Andrea (Charles) Swanson.  His posterity includes 13 grandchildren, 44 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren.  He is preceded in death by his parents, spouse,  infant sister, Maxine Randall, brothers, Alfred Kay Randall, Eugene Thomas Randall, Elliot Earl Randall, and Shirley Blaine Randall,  Grandson, Matthew Naylor and Great Grandson, Alec Eros Arevalo.

Funeral services will be held 11:00, Monday, February 10, 2020 at the Centerville 5th Ward, 270 North 300 East Centerville, visitation 9:30–10:30.  You may call on the family, Sunday, February 9, 2020, 6:00-8:00, Russon Mortuary, 295 N. Main, Bountiful, UT.  Interment Centerville City Cemetery. 

Porky’s family wishes to express their gratitude for the many family and friends who have expressed an outpouring of love and kindness.