Arthur Raymond Walnum

Arthur Raymond Walnum, 81, passed away on January 17 in Las Vegas after a lifetime of dedication to his family, church, and work. Art was born on January 22, 1942 in Chicago, Illinois to Robert Walnum and Roberta Hansen. When his father left to serve in the Pacific in World War II, Art and his mother moved to her hometown of Manchester, Connecticut to be near family.

Growing up, Art was active in the church and scouting, and worked for his father’s restaurant in high school. He earned his lifeguard certification and spent his summers as a volunteer lifeguard at a nearby pond.

He attended Brigham Young University, where he served in the Air Force ROTC for four years, including the drill team his freshman year. After his first year, he left for two and a half years to serve as a missionary in Central America for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Upon graduation from BYU, he was commissioned into the Air Force as a second lieutenant. He had met Joyce Cox just three weeks before graduation and was smitten. However, he was headed to San Antonio, Texas for the Air Force and she to Vacaville, California to begin teaching. They stayed in touch long-distance, and after a Christmas proposal in Joyce’s hometown of Buhl, Idaho, were married on February 8, 1968 in the Idaho Falls temple.

In San Antonio, Art served as an Air Force Captain and Air Officer Instructor at Officer Training School. There, the couple welcomed their first two sons, Michael and Nathan.

While in San Antonio, he also earned a master’s degree in guidance and counseling at Our Lady of the Lake College.

After the Air Force, the family moved back to Provo for Art to earn his doctorate in school psychology. The family settled in Idaho, where they added sons Scott and David and Art pursued a long career in school psychology and mental health.

In Burley, Art worked as a school psychologist and eventually rose to Director of Special Education. During his 18-year tenure in that role, he grew the program to 65 staff members serving 600 students and developed the largest Special Olympics ski program in the state.

After the boys were out on their own, Art attended a conference in Las Vegas, which led to a new job opportunity as a bilingual school psychologist in Vegas.

Art’s numerous leadership roles in the church include Branch President, Bishop’s Counselor, Bishop, and High Priest Group Leader. Upon retirement, Art and Joyce worked as senior missionaries for 18 months in Salt Lake and then for another 18 months in Guatemala City, where Art was Area Mental Health Adviser for Central America.

Art is survived by Joyce, his wife of 55 years; his brothers, Clayton (Lynn), Jared (Eileen), and Glenn; his sons, Michael, Nathan (Lori), Scott (Casey), and David (Nancy); his grandchildren, Aubrey (Zach), Ali, Aiden, Gavin, Brock, Addison, Claire, and Tarn; and one great-grandchild, Beckham Jarvis.

He leaves an enduring legacy of love, family, and faith and will be deeply missed.

Visitation will be held at noon, Monday, January 29, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 5975 N. Clayton St., North Las Vegas, 89031 with the funeral services at 1 pm.

Interment follows at 3 pm at Palm Northwest Cemetery, 6701 N. Jones Blvd., Las Vegas.

Arthur will be laid to rest in Palm Northwest Cemetery, 6701 North Jones Blvd, Las Vegas, Nevada 89131; Garden of Deseret.