Robert Terry

Robert Henry Terry

April 25, 1924 ~ February 2, 2018

Robert Henry Terry, beloved by his family, passed away peacefully at age 93 in Salt Lake City, Utah on February 2, 2018.  Bob, the youngest of four children, was born on April 25, 1924 in Mt Pleasant, Utah to William Henry Terry, Jr. and Edna Merline Christiansen Terry.  After living in Mt Pleasant for five years, he moved with his family to Hyrum, Cache County, Utah, where he spent the remainder of his childhood.  He graduated in 1942 from South Cache High School, where he was both student body president and valedictorian.

Following high school graduation, he enrolled at Utah State Agricultural College, and signed up for the Army Reserve Corps.  He was called to active duty in the Spring of 1943.  After finishing the semester at USU, he went through basic training, and was accepted in the Army Specialized Training Program and the Air Cadet Corps.  When these programs were cancelled, he was assigned as a bazooka gunner in the 99th Infantry Division, 1st Platoon, Company G.  He fought in the Battle of the Bulge, and single-handedly captured a German Panzer tank and all of its occupants.

Following the war, he returned to Utah State University, where he met and married the lovely Barbara Burgener in the Logan Temple on December 18, 1946.  Together they had four children and were married 54 years before she passed away in November, 2000.

After graduating from Utah State, he and Barbara moved to Seattle, WA, where he attended the University of Washington, graduating with an MS in Political Science.  He and Barbara subsequently moved to Washington, DC, where he was a Secret Service Agent for both President Harry S. Truman and President Dwight D. Eisenhower.  After 5 years as an Agent, he transferred to the Internal Revenue Service, where he spent the remainder of his career.

He was transferred from Washington, DC to Ogden, Utah, where he first served as the Assistant Director of the IRS Ogden UT Service Center. After a few years, he was transferred to Atlanta Georgia, where he was given the task of building and establishing the IRS Atlanta GA Service Center, the first Service Center in the country to use computers to process tax returns for the IRS.  Following the successful building of the Atlanta Service Center, he returned again to Ogden to serve as the Director of the Service Center there for many years. He also served for several years as Assistant Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service in Washington, DC.

His service as Director of these IRS Centers was remarkable in many ways. For example, in 1960, as Director of the IRS Atlanta Service Center, he hired the first African-American ever to be employed by the Federal Government in the Southern States in a professional-level job. He was devoted to fairness, and was determined to hire whoever was qualified for any position, regardless of ethnicity. Living in the Deep South did not change these values.

He was noted for his many service activities, devoting much time to​ Boy Scouts of America, (and loved going to BSA’s Camp Loll), Rotary Club, American Cancer Society, and United Way.  Most importantly, as a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he served in various callings in the Church throughout the years.

His love for his family was evident in the time he spent with them. Bob loved the outdoors, and regularly took his family camping. He loved flying and was a pilot, which provided many opportunities to take his family on trips in his small plane. He loved sailing and boating, and his family has great memories of waterskiing and sailing at Bear Lake, the Puget Sound, and off the Southern California coast. One of the things his grandchildren remember is that they were each invited, when they were eight years old, to spend a week or so with their Grandpa and Grandma Terry going on a special trip. His retirement years were also filled with things he loved: raising raspberries, traveling the world with Barbara, and serving in the Church.

Following the death of his beloved wife, Barbara, he married the wonderful Lucy Strecker, and spent 16 great years with her in Seattle, WA.  They, too, have traveled extensively and participated in many community events.  His family is very grateful to Lucy for her many contributions to Dad’s life these past years.

Robert Terry was a man of integrity and honor.  His word was his bond; people could trust Bob to do what he said.  His was a life well-lived.  He was much loved by his family, and will be greatly missed.  His example will remain with them forever.

He is survived by his wife, Lucy; his children -- Stephen R. Terry and wife, Valerie; Cynthia K. Mitchell and husband, Ron; Brian K. Terry and wife, Pam; and Michele T. Gibbons and husband, Robert; 16​ grandchildren, 4 step-grandchildren, and 32 great-grandchildren, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.  He was predeceased by his first wife, Barbara, his parents, and his two sisters and one brother.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 10, 2018 at 11 a.m. at Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd. Friends may visit with family on Saturday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the mortuary. Interment, Lindquist’s Washington Heights Memorial Park, 4500 Washington Blvd. We invite you to come and celebrate his life with us. ​

The family wishes to acknowledge the extraordinary care and attention Bob received from the staff and management of Abbington Senior Living, Holladay UT. We’d also like to thank President Monte Peterson for his many visits and his loving care and concern.