John "Ray" Wall

Born December 2, 1923 in Logan, Utah to John Edward and Ada Ray Wall, on a cold winter day with 2 feet of snow. Typical of Logan back then. He passed away peacefully at home on November 16, 2021, in North Salt Lake, Utah.

He is survived by his ten children, Johnny (Nancy)Wall, Mary Ann (John) Wells, Jimmy (Ranee) Wall, Karen Wall, Becky (Von) Osguthorpe, Debbie (Mike) Brady, Sharon ( Jerry) Bielstein, David (Holly) Wall, Michael (Colene) Wall, Patty (Vince) Hamilton, 56 grandchildren, 87 great grandchildren and more on the way. Brother IVon Wall, Sisters Iva Wilcoxson and Ada Mae Griffin. Preceded in Death by his Wife of 69 years Irene Freeman Wall, Granddaughter Danielle Rebekka Bielstein, Grandson Dustin Vallejos, Parents John Edward and Ada Ray Wall, Brother Edward Ray Wall, Sister Ruth Walker.

Ray was raised in Logan, Utah along with his 5 siblings. He worked at the Blue Bird in Logan, Utah along with his father making candy and ice cream. After graduating from High School he worked as a carpenter. When his cousin came to visit he decided to move to California. They traveled there by bus going 35 miles an hour which had been put in place to limit the use of gasoline. He worked in the shipyards for a year as a welder where he became very proficient. After that year he got drafted into the Army. He was offered a deferment to stay at the shipyard but he felt he needed to serve his country.

After all the basic training they boarded a ship for the South Pacific Landing in Australia. He stayed in big army tents for a month for more training there. He later boarded a troop transport plane headed to Porsby, New Guinea.

After returning from the War Ray served a 2½ year mission in Argentina. He became fluent in the Spanish language.

Ray was very talented in what he did. He loved building things with his hands. After he came home from his mission he attended Utah State University receiving his degree in Industrial Arts. He met and married Irene Freeman in the Logan Temple, April 5, 1950. Soon after his family began.

He started his teaching career first in Dragerton for 9 years, where his students won many awards in metal and wood classes. The family now consisting of 9 children then moved to Ogden where he taught in Roy for 1 year, then on to Bountiful and Viewmont High in the Spanish Department along with some shop and metal classes until he retired. Towards the end of his teaching career he built homes with the students for the district.

In his spare time he built spec homes to sell. He built toys for his grandchildren teaching some of them how to use the big boy tools. He helped all his children build or fix their homes. He was always ready to help or serve.

Ray loved the gospel. He always said he kept at least two commandments, he “earned his bread by the sweat of his brow” and he “multiplied and replenished the earth”.

In his late 60’s he suffered several heart attacks. As time went on he started slowing down with what he did. He remained active in the church and did indexing for years, a lot of it was Spanish. In his 90’s as his eyes began to dim he couldn’t do much of that any more. At the age of 95 he suffered 2 strokes which put him in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Through the next years he had more heart attacks and more strokes. He kept saying he wanted to walk but the strokes took it out of him. He tried very hard with his Physical Therapist for over a year but the walking never came back. During the last few years of his life he would tell people that he wanted to live to 100. Even after he was put on hospice a week before he died he told the nurse that. His will to live was still there but his body was giving out. He died peacefully with his daughter and son-in-law by his side, 16 days before his 98th Birthday.

We want to thank the care givers at Atlas Healthcare/Hospice for the time they spent taking care of him for the past 3 ½ years.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 pm on Monday, November 22, 2021, at the Bountiful Utah Orchard Stake Center, 3599 S Orchard Dr., Bountiful, UT 84010. Viewing will be from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm prior to the service. Interment will be at the Bountiful City Cemetery, 2224 S 200 W, Bountiful, UT 84010.

Ray’s services will also be streamed on YouTube.

1. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHJxgEms9Tytg6I0ieYTJyQ/

2. Search for the channel name: Orchard Stake Fifth Ward

3. Direct to the Live Stream: https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCHJxgEms9Tytg6I0ieYTJyQ/livestreaming