Marvin Farley Luddington

Marvin Farley Luddington fell victim to a stroke, while visiting loved ones in Charlotte, North Carolina, and passed away in the arms of his adoring siblings and close family friends, on Monday, December 5, 2022. 

Sixty-three years ago on May 29, 1959, this adorable, strawberry-blonde haired boy was born in Riverside, California to Dean Farley and Mary Carol (Smith) Luddington. Marv was the third child of six children: Diane (Steven) Peterson, Richard (Barbara) Luddington, John (Andrea) Luddington, Sharon (Craig) Kofford, and Stephen (Kimberly) Luddington.

Marvin grew up in Bountiful, Utah, attending Leo J. Muir Elementary School, South Davis Junior High School, Woods Cross and Bountiful High School. Marv graduated from Bountiful High in 1977 and from there served as a valiant, full-time missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Ohio, Columbus mission. After completing his mission, he continued his education at Weber State College, University of Utah, and Westminster College, graduating with a Bachelor's degree and continuing with further studies to receive his Master’s degree in Education.

In his youth, Marv loved football, baseball, track, and later, golf, but his greatest love, however, was water skiing and snow skiing. He could turn on the water effortlessly and make the biggest “wall of water” spray, or when he skied at Alta and Snowbird, he could cut through waist-high powder like melted butter. He often hiked up the backside of the ski resorts to get deep, fresh powder. He was such a graceful and talented, self-taught skier. At the annual “Luddington Open” where he and his brothers golfed for days, Marv was famous for his “big boy” drives, and he often used his 5 iron as a substitute for his driver. His ability to “smack that baby” several hundred yards with accuracy onto the green was remarkable! Marv also enjoyed shotgun shooting, a delicious hamburger, traveling, workouts at the gym to always keep himself in top physical shape, competitive racquetball games with friends, and giving unsurpassed back rubs. He enjoyed doing what everyone else loved doing in an effort to support them.

Marvin was a self-motivated, gifted musician but never enjoyed piano lessons. When it was time for his piano lesson he would run off into the back yard and hide in the oak brush until the teacher finally left. Undeterred by his dislike for lessons, he was a self-taught musician, playing the piano by ear. He would listen to music and then plunk it out on the piano until he made the piano keys come to life. He composed his own original music, adding a little “rock n’ roll” to create his own version of the hymns and primary songs. Marv’s talent on the piano was unparalleled. Marv could be seen many times from his living room window playing into the darkness of night on his beloved Steinway. He composed many piano melodies, revised hymns to his liking, wrote his own lyrics with deep meaning and sang them using his beautiful tenor voice. Marv also taught himself how to play acoustic and electric guitars and made the drive all the way to Bend, Oregon to pick out the wood for his custom-made Breedlove guitar. His fingers made music heavenly and the soul craved it. He was remarkable and his music was astounding! Marv had just the right touch and knew how to convey it beautifully!

Marv’s life was filled with service, hard work, education, and love and compassion for others. These were Marv’s trademarks. He was fiercely devoted to family and friends and always looked for ways to serve others in need. Marv was known as "Mr. fix it” or “help with anything." When someone was in need, he always stopped what he was doing to help pull out tree roots, lay sod, build a home with his brother-in-law, trim branches, dig ditches, plant trees, and mow lawns. One of his greatest joys was in the service of taking care of his parents. His devotion deepened his love and appreciation for them as he carefully and lovingly helped his mother daily as she suffered the effects of multiple strokes and Parkinson’s disease. He would take her on car rides, read to her, give her massages, feed her and gently tuck her into bed. Serving in the same way, he cared for his father on two occasions when he fell and broke his hip.  He also joyfully played with children and was a storyteller extraordinaire as he told “magical stories” before bedtime.

Marv’s generous nature was another trademark of his. He always shared his resources, giving food to anyone in need. He was famous for having a carload of food, ready to give to someone who could use it. He often showed up to visit with a bag of grapes, popcorn, “chewy’s” and Diet Pepsi in hand.

A teacher by trade, Marv knew and understood the hearts and minds of youth from every walk of life. Marv not only worked with youth, he had the unique ability to see them and to love them, oftentimes when it seemed no one else would. Known simply as “Mr. Marv” to his students, he found ways to connect and engage with them which fostered a trust and an excitement for learning. He was awarded “The Best of Davis Awards/Teacher at Renaissance Academy” in 2020. Marvin always integrated a variety of arts into his teaching style. The Bountiful Chalk Art Festival was a favorite to let students release their creativity as was his classroom. In his school room, guitars hung around which were played; with the help of his sister, Diane, bread making was used to demonstrate mathematical measurements; and making homemade chocolate Oreo ice cream was another creative way to teach life skills and lighten the mood.

Marv was not only a lover of music and a cheerleader of troubled teens, he was also a lover of people, and everyone who truly knew Marv felt like they were his best friend. Many tenants at the apartments Marv managed in Salt Lake City had strong connections with him. Some stayed at the apartments for years, and others who had left, came back because they were so impressed and touched by Marv and his loving nature. He was even planning a trip to India this coming May to spend time with some of the families who had lived in the apartments. His presence will be missed everywhere.

Marv was kind, thoughtful, and generous in all that he did. If anyone ever reflected Christ through the way they lived their lives, it was Marvin Luddington. He was honest in all of his dealings, even when no one was watching; he was compassionate and understanding, even when the predicaments of others were self-inflicted; he was patient, even when things hurt or when life was hard to endure.

Above and beyond all of Marvin's wonderful gifts and accomplishments, his humble devotion to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and his deep and abiding faith in God were the hallmark and center of his goodness. 

"Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?  When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, In as much as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." Matthew 25:34-40

Goodbye, our beloved brother and friend. Oh, how we will miss you! God be with you till we meet again.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, January 7, 2023 at the Bountiful 31st Ward, 585 East Center Street, Bountiful, Utah. A viewing will be held Friday evening from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Russon Mortuary, 295 North Main, Bountiful, and Saturday morning 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the church prior to services. Interment- Ogden City Cemetery.

Services will be streamed live on the Russon Mortuary & Crematory Facebook page and this obituary page.