Orlin Ford

Orlin Edward Ford

1924-2014

Orlin Edward Ford, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather passed away peacefully at his home on October 12, 2014.  He has joyfully rejoined his parents and all of his 9 brothers and sisters on the other side.  His supreme love for the Savior was reflected in how he treated everyone he met.  Our lives have been graced by one of the truly noble and great ones. Orlin was born in Provo, Utah on September 23, 1924 to Phillip Lewis Ford and Flora Elizabeth Yates.  He grew up in Provo and also spent some summers in the Wallsburg area where his father herded sheep.  He married his sweetheart Lenora Victoria Butikofer on December 20, 1949 in the Idaho Falls Temple.  He has been devoted to her for 65 years.  He loved his family of 3 children, 14 grandchildren, and 24 great-grandchildren with 3 on the way.

Orlin's life was filled with service to his family, church, and country.  He was a World War II veteran serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1943 to 1945.  After stateside training, he joined the 490th Bombardment Group in England as a radioman and left waist gunner on a B-17.  He flew 35 missions over Germany from 1944-45.  He was awarded the third oak leaf cluster for his participation in the great aerial offensive over Germany.

Upon his return from military service, he attended BYU and graduated in 1949 with a Bachelors degree in mathematics.  He later received a masters degree in mathematics from the University of Utah.  After his marriage, he served as a missionary in the Eastern States Mission where he served in the mission presidency and had a leadership role over the Hill Cumorah Pageant.

He worked for a time at Hill Air Force Base.  However, his love was teaching so he began a teaching career at Bountiful High School where he taught mathematics and physics for 30 years.  While chairman of the mathematics department, Orlin  received  the 1983 Mathematics Educator Award from the Brigham Young University College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences.  The Dean said that "Ford has consistently been one of the outstanding mathematics educators in the state.  He was largely responsible for the design of the mathematics curriculum used in the Davis School District.  In most respects, the success of a teacher is best measured by the performance of his students.  By that measurement, Orlin has been a most successful teacher."  Many of Orlin's students have excelled in their professions and have returned to thank him for their success.  He will be greatly missed, but he will live on through the great influence he has had on many people.

Orlin served in many callings in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He also served faithfully for over 40 years as a veil worker in the Salt Lake Temple.  He called his time in the temple his "sweet hour of prayer."

Orlin was preceded in death by his parents and his 5 brothers and 4 sisters.  He is survived by his wife Lenora Butikofer Ford and his children Ron (Patty) Ford, Judy (Elvin) Robertson, and Ken (Linda) Ford.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 18, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at the Bountiful 23rd Ward, 650 E. 2150 S., Bountiful, Utah.  Family and friends may visit from 9:30-10:30 prior to the funeral service.  A viewing will also be held on Friday evening, October 17th from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Lindquist’s Bountiful Mortuary, 727 N. 400 E.  Interment will be at the East Lawn Memorial Hills Cemetery in Provo, Utah.