Douglas Rushton Wach

Doug, 91, departed our beautiful earth in the early hours of Sunday, December 4th, just two days shy of his 92nd birthday. Born to Fred Wach Jr. and Stella Rushton in Hunter, Utah. After meeting in the Swinging Singles Square dancing troupe, he married the love of his life, Martha Chesney Jeffries on May 21st, 1980 and became an active member of the LDS church.

Doug led an incredibly full life. He served our country in the Navy during the Korean War as an airplane mechanic stationed in Hawaii from December 13th, 1950 to September 24th,1954. He later became an electrician at Kennecott, where his father also worked. He attended beauty school where he became a beautician and mastered the art of finger waves, pin curls, and his own afro. He had many passions including gardening, maintaining a beautiful greenhouse where he started all of his plants from seed, cooking, creating delicious stews and teaching his grandkids to properly slurp soup, canning vegetables in the garage, making jam, and reading recipe books, oil painting, which he recently revisited exploring a trove of landscapes with the guidance of Bob Ross.

An avid outdoorsman, his love for hunting started with a pocketful of rocks, a flipper, and a 10¢ bounty on magpies. He loved and mentored many others in his appreciation for hunting, camping, and fishing. He took many road trips with his wife, Martha, kids, and grandkids. To rectify the many birds who lost their lives to his round rocks, he fed all the birds post-retirement.

Doug graduated from Cyprus High School in Magna, Utah where he was a pitcher on the baseball team, helping to win the championship and later joining the AAA baseball team in Salt Lake City. A part of the track team, javelin throwing, and football team, his ever-skinned nose never stopped his love of sports.

This old man inspires each of us to live every second of our lives. He will delight in guiding loved ones in a new way and enjoying all of his favorite books from Louis L'Amour as if it were his first read. A wealth of patience, knowledge, and wisdom, Doug is loved by many and already missed dearly. He lives on in our remembrance of him and the smiles on our faces.

Doug was preceded in death by his father, Fred Wach Jr.; mother, Stella Rushton Wach; brothers Robert L. Wach “Butch,” William “Bill” F. Wach.

He is survived by his sisters Marianne Perkins and Dorothy Reese; 14 children, each loved as his own: Paul Wach, Rich (Rosario) Wach, Glenn Wach, Margo (Bob) Wach, Sandy (Darrell) Scott, and Doug (Leslie) Wach who all became part of his life during his first marriage to Kaye; Terry (Barbara) Jeffries, Rachel (Richard) Tanner, Cynthia A. Riley (Robert Pendleton), David Jeffries, Michael (Shelly) Jeffries, Grace (Doug) Beynon, Jon (Heidi) Jeffries, and Melody (Travis) Fisher who all became part of his life in his second marriage to Martha; bonus children Sharon Pratt and Carol Vallejo; 43 grandchildren, and 57 great-grandchildren.

Doug’s services are to be held on Monday, December 12th, 2022 at 11:00 AM at the Valley View Funeral Home Chapel in West Valley City. A viewing will be held Sunday evening, December 11th, 2022 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM and again December 12th, 2022 from 10:00 - 11:00 AM prior to the services.

Valley View Funeral Home is located at 4335 W. 4100 S. West Valley City, Utah 84120

Luncheon to follow at the church on 7525 W. Washington Road Magna, Utah 84044

Thank you to Rachel and Richard Tanner, the special care you have provided has not gone unnoticed.