Sarkis Arslanian

Sark Arslanian, age 92, passed away on Sunday, December 11, 2016 at his home in St. George. He was born on February 4, 1924 in Fresno, California to Armenian immigrants, Kevork and Freida (Aposhian) Arslanian. He served as an XO in the Navy during World War II, mostly in the South Pacific. After returning home he married Verlyn Metcalf on June 21, 1946 in the Salt Lake City Temple.

He took his first job coaching football at Union High School in Roosevelt, Utah in 1954. That job launched a coaching career that did not end until he stopped actively coaching at age 90 and had been inducted into coaching halls of fame at every level. His coaching career led him to Dixie College (1955-65) Weber State (1965-73), Colorado State (1973-82) and around the world to Italy, Japan, and Armenia (1989-1995). He then retired to his beloved St. George where he resumed coaching, first at Pine View High School and then nearly a decade coaching youth football in the Pine View and Desert Hills districts until finally hanging up his whistle in 2014. During his career, he coached three generations of his own posterity—a son, a grandson, and a great-grandson.

Along the way, Coach Sark left an indelible impact on the lives of countless young men and was always more interested in their success in life than any win loss record could measure. Coach Sark left his mark in this world, but his greatest contribution is the legacy of a strong family that will continue to change the world for generations.

Coach Sark was preceded in death by his wife Verlyn, and is survived by his wife Barbara Watson, his six children Sandra, Dave (Pat), Paul (Julie), James (Stephanie), Robyn Woods (Gene-deceased), and Shanan, 15 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren.

Viewings will be held on Friday, Dec 16 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S. Bluff St., St. George, and Saturday, Dec 17from 12:00-1:30 p.m. at the Bloomington Hills Stake Center, 1130 E. Brigham Rd, St. George, prior to funeral services at 2:00 p.m. An additional viewing to be held on Monday, Dec 19 from 9:30-10:30 am at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park (3401 S. Highland Drive, Salt Lake City). Burial at Wasatch Lawn Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Dixie State University Football Program in the name of Sark Arslanian.