Roger B Packard

Roger Blake Packard returned to his Heavenly home on February 5, 2022. He will be missed by many, but we are so happy he has reunited with the love of his life, his only son, and many others whom he has missed greatly in recent years.

He was born September 22, 1930 to Barnum Blake and Rozilla Grant Packard in Long Beach, California. He was the middle of three brothers and spent a childhood playing at the beach, camping, and developing his lifelong love of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ, and music. He loved dancing to the big bands at the Hollywood Bowl as a teenager. Classical music was always playing when dad was home, and he loved to stand by the stereo, and with eyes closed and baton in hand, conducting symphonies from his living room.

As a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he served in the French mission from 1950-1953, where he gained an enduring love of the French language and gourmet food. He loved to bake bread and create all manner of French dishes. On return from France, he served in the US Army from 1953-1955.

On August 16, 1955, he was sealed to Barbara Ann Goates in the Los Angeles Temple, and together they created a legacy of love for the Gospel and service to others. They had two little girls in California, then moved to Maryland, where he graduated from Georgetown University dental school. They added a son and two more daughters in Maryland as he went to school. He practiced dentistry in Rockville, MD for 40 years, and had a reputation for being a gentle and generous dentist.

He served in numerous church callings, going the extra mile to support the many converts and diverse population of the church in the Washington, DC area. He also served in his community as a Rotatrian. He loved living in the Washington, DC area, and there were many family trips downtown to visit the monuments and Smithsonian. He was always good for a road trip and dragged all the children to see the historic cities and sites of the East, as well as across the country to family in Utah and California, and as far as Alaska. In his later years, he and Mom adopted two Cambodian daughters who brought them great joy.

He and Mom retired to California in 2003, and then to Farmington, UT. After his beautiful Barbara died ten years ago, he served in the Family History Library in SLC, helping French patrons and others with genealogy questions. Always serving, he was concerned at the end that he wasn’t able to help where he was needed. We are so grateful that he gets to be busy again, sharing his beloved Gospel.

Besides our mother, his greatest love was for the scriptures. He studied the gospel with devotion and curiosity, bearing continual testimony of Jesus Christ.

He is survived by daughters, Ann (Dan) O’Keefe, Lauri (John) Barger, Casey (J.) Allen, Rebecca (Edward) Houghton, Ratha (Luis) Sok, Chana Sok; 21 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, February 8, 2022 at 10 a.m. at Russon Mortuary, 1941 North Main Street, Farmington, Utah. A viewing will be held on Monday, February 7, 2022 from 6 to 8 p.m. and Tuesday, February 8, 2022 from 8:45 to 9:45 a.m at the same location. Interment at the Lehi City Cemetery.

For those wishing to attend virtually, the service will be streamed live at 10 am MST on Russon Mortuary and Crematory Facebook Page using the link below: https://www.facebook.com/Russon-Mortuary-Crematory-105412734572327