Royal Eugene Oakes

Royal Eugene Oakes ended his time on Earth on January 31, 2016. A mere seventeen days shy of his 91st birthday; he passed into eternity with loved ones near, welcomed by a daughter, Catherine Tate, his father whom he had not seen for 85 years, and his mother, who preceded him. 

Born February 17, 1925 to Eugene Turley Oakes and Mary Mendenhall Oakes, Royal spent his earliest months living on his parent's small farm in Napa, California where they lived "happily amongst the beautiful country" and grew prunes. In 1927, his family moved back to Springville, Utah, to be closer to extended family after the collapse of the California prune-economy.

Royal attended High School in Springville, and upon graduation was drafted into the army where he was trained to drive armored tanks at Camp Phillips, Kansas. He served in the European Theatre and drove his tank, through France, Germany, completing his assignment in Austria. Royal later chronicled his war experiences at Camp Phillips in his book, "Camp Phillips: a History of the World War II Army Camp", which is considered a family classic. It has been in continuous print since publication and book sales continue to this day, more than thirty years later.

Dad met his future sweetheart, Lois Jean Walton, upon moving home after World War II. Their romance developed over the next several years while exchanging letters as he served a successful mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Northwestern States Mission (incidentally, the same mission his mother had served in twenty-five years earlier). They were married upon his return.

He graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in business management and worked for thirty years for the United States Air Force at Hill Air Force Base as a systems analyst. Upon retirement from the Air Force, Royal started a second career working with Utah Industries for the Blind.

Grandpa loved the outdoors and enjoyed his home and garden. His spring and summer flowers were locally famous, and his raspberries and strawberries were considered by his grandchildren as the best anywhere.

An avid tinkerer, Royal created and operated the first (and longest continuous running) seasonal zip-line (known as the "trolley") in the Bountiful area (his backyard). Each summer and fall, he gave free rides to his children, friends, and later grandchildren.

In winter, Royal would erect his Ice Castle to the delight of friends, family, and neighbors. Standing over eighteen feet tall and bathed in light, the Ice Castle made him something of a local celebrity. Visible for blocks in any direction, it was profiled several times by the local media during the more than fifty years that he lived in Bountiful.

He is survived by his wife Lois; daughters Marsha (Robert) Clark and Linnea (Clint) Child; sons Stephen, Gene (Wendy), and David (Kimberly); 21 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am at the Bountiful 31st Ward (585 East Center Street, Bountiful) on Friday, Feb 5, 2016. Friends and family may visit Thursday, Feb 4, 2016 at Russon Brothers Mortuary (295 North Main Street, Bountiful) from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. and Friday morning 9:45-10:45 a.m. at the church prior to services.