Our beloved husband, father, brother and friend, Ralph Sheldon Page, passed away on Tuesday December 10, 2019 at 82 years of age. Ralph, known as Sheldon to his siblings, was born September 4, 1937 in Murray, Utah to Ralph Colbert Page and Vera Jane Nielsen. He spent his childhood and youth in West Bountiful and Bountiful. He loved sports and ran track, wrestled and played football in High school.
He graduated from Davis High in 1955, enlisted in the National Guard, spent a year in training and then continued his education at the University of Utah. He loved football and started his university studies on the university’s team, however he soon realized he wanted to dedicate more to his studies and chose to participate as a dedicated fan rather than a team member. In June of 1957, he married his sweetheart, Gwendolyn Kingsford, in the Salt Lake City Temple. They lived up close to the U of U campus until he obtained his degree in civil engineering in 1960. During his university studies he and Gwen had their two oldest sons: Ralph Marvin and Garth Sheldon. The family moved to Redding, CA where he worked for the Division of Highways (CalTrans). After three daughters, Joylene, Melodyann, and Gaylee and another son, Justen Thayne, they moved to Fair Oaks, CA, where Ralph worked for the California Military Department for 20 years. There they stayed and had four more children a boy, Merrill Anthony, two girls, Cheerilynn and Mistigail, then another boy, Cortney Brandon. They raised their family in Fair Oaks and enjoyed many wonderful friendships and close associations.
Ralph was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and served in many capacities in the wards wherever they lived, always sharing his testimony and love for the Savior and His Gospel. He was a great example of Christlike service and tried his best to do as his Savior would. Ralph loved to help others and was a dedicated DIY home improvement man. He built a large addition onto his home that took years to fully complete. He also lived for scouts and was a fabulous scoutmaster, spending many years of dedicated service in the Boy Scouts of America. He was awarded the Silver Bear and Silver Beaver. Family was very important to Ralph. He loved his children and enjoyed watching them grow. He was grateful for the dedicated love and support of Gwen as he continued in his career and they raised their ten children. He also enjoyed dancing with his wife Gwen. They were famous for their two-step. After 33 wonderful years of marriage, in 1990 Gwen passed away. That same year, he moved over to the Department of General Services in the Office of the State Architect as a senior engineer.
Ralph married Marilyn Martin Tadlock from Rockingham, North Carolina in April of 1994 in the Salt Lake Temple and added her and her five children, Martin Keith Tadlock, Renee Overstreet, Sidney Andrew Tadlock, Kevin Garrison Tadlock and Karen Swan Witlow to his family. They continued in Fair Oaks until Ralph’s youngest children were grown and he retired from DGS in 2000. He then continued to work as a retiree for DGS for another year.
Ralph and Marilyn were able to serve three mission for the Church in Tampa, FL, Hong Kong, and on the Hopi Reservation in Arizona. He loved serving those missions with Marilyn and enjoyed every opportunity he had to share his love of the Gospel. After their three missions, he was blessed to have the opportunity to return to work for the Military Department with his two sons Justen and Garth.
Ralph and Marilyn spent their later years in Lehi, UT, where they were an integral part of their community. Ralph served diligently in many capacities on the Board for their community. Ralph and Marilyn celebrated their 25th anniversary this year.
Ralph was a truly kind and generous man, with a great love for others. He wasn’t perfect but he was infinitely precious to many who knew him. He will be greatly missed and we love him dearly.
He is survived by his wife Marilyn, his 15 children (listed above), their spouses, his 60 grandchildren, 60 great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Carolyn Page, his brother Arnold Page, his first wife, Gwendolyn, his grandsons: Jordon Tylor Densley, Michael Anthony Page, Alexander Matthew Hall, Leaton Montgomery Long and great-granddaughter, Patience Rose Page.
A viewing will be held prior to the funeral services at 12:00 pm. Funeral services will be held at the Snow Springs Chapel located at 1801 West 700 South, Lehi, Utah on Saturday, Dec. 14th at 1:00pm.
Memorial Service on Dec. 20th, 2019 at 11:00am in California at 7800 Santa Juanita Ave. Orangevale, CA 95662 and interment at Mount Vernon Memorial Park & Mortuary 8201 Greenback Lane, Fair Oaks, CA 96628
In lieu of flowers, please donate to Cancer Research or your favorite charity.
