Jay Allgood

Jay R Cunningham Allgood

Jay was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Alta Mable Atkinson Cunningham and John Robert Cunningham. Jay’s father died before he was born. When he was two years old his mother remarried Ed Allgood, who was a devoted and caring father to Jay. Jay married Roberta Grace Thaxton on August 22, 1947. They were later sealed in the Salt Lake LDS temple. He died in Syracuse, Utah, December 18, 2016.

Jay is survived by his daughters Kristin Bingham (Ray) and Neca Allgood (David Moore) and his sister Connie (Jack) Butler, sister-in-law Helen Parker, as well as 11 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, daughter Jadalyn, son Jordan, and daughter-in-law Kathy.

Jay graduated from Jordan High School during WWII. He attended two quarters at the University of Utah prior to being drafted into the Navy. He had the good fortune (and good test scores) to be admitted to Navy officer training, and was assigned to study mechanical engineering at Rice University in Houston, Texas. Jay ultimately earned a BS from Rice, an MS from Ohio State, and did advanced study at Stanford.

Jay taught engineering for several years at Rice University, but spent the majority of his engineering career as a researcher at the Naval Civil Engineering Lab in Port Hueneme, California. Jay’s areas of research included pre-stressed concrete, testing of structural elements in above ground nuclear tests, and buried structures. He was the author of many papers in his field, and holds a patent for an atomic blast simulator.

After his retirement, at age 49, he had more time to pursue his interests in finance, hypnosis, alternative medicine, and the lessons of history. He published the book Embracing History’s Lessons in 2004, and was working on a collection of his essays at the time of his death.

Jay served the community as a leader in Toastmasters, the Ventura County Symphony Association, and (during their time in St. George) Colleagues of Dixie College and the board of directors of their townhome association, as well as serving in the LDS church as a ward clerk and High Priest’s group teacher. Jay was a devoted and giving friend, and a committed husband and parent.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, December 27, 2016 at 11 a.m. at Lindquist’s Layton Mortuary, 1867 No. Fairfield Road.  Friends may visit family one hour prior to services at the mortuary.  Interment, Riverton City Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, and in honor of Jay’s lifelong commitment to education, please donate to the College or University of your choice.