Rex Merritt Estes

Born the New Year’s baby to Bess Olson Estes & Merritt C. Estes on January 1, 1945, in Richfield, Utah, Rex’s younger years were spent in Logan, Utah and in Phoenix, Arizona where he spent lots of time in swimming pools and on football and baseball fields. Ironically, he always said Arizona’s climate was just right and Utah was too cold—but that he always wanted to go back to Alaska.

Rex met his sweetheart, Lona Lee Christensen, at Ben Lomond High School in Ogden, Utah. When her family moved to Fruit Heights only months into their Senior year, he rode his skinny-tire 10-speed bicycle the 30-mile round-trip up and down Highway 89 to court her. After high school, he served 2.5 years in the French East Mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Lona Lee waited for him and they were married in the Salt Lake Temple on Valentine’s Day 1967.

He studied engineering at BYU and the University of Utah before he joined the U.S. Air Force. He served in the Security Services during Vietnam and was stationed in Okinawa, Alaska, Texas and Utah. Their 3 children—Connie, Cory and Kevin—were born while he served. His very being was imbued with a love for this country, the USAF Thunderbirds and all things aviation.

After his military service, while studying at Weber State, he was recruited by I.B.M. where he retired after working 23 rigorously exhausting years. When he retired, he worked many other amusing jobs involving his interests. He liked to hunt, fish, camp, ride motorcycles, drive long distances and teach his children many things. He adored music, choirs, bands and the clarinet, which he played in his youth. He continued to enjoy these things as his posterity blessed him with their love of music. He was an avid Amateur (H.A.M.) Radio guru and widely respected in the UARC and UVHFS communities. For 20 years, he used this expertise as an Emergency Operations Senior Service Missionary to provide global Church communication.

His wife, 3 children, 9 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren will miss his many plaid/flannel shirts, gas-station ball caps and his great advice. His wit and joviality have passed to his posterity and he will always be remembered to have had a silly retort and a dad joke—or three—at the ready. He was a good friend to many and had many life-long friends. He loved to learn and to keep himself educated, so we’re sure he’s off playing in the Universe discovering all the answers to his many deep questions. It can be said that he lived long and prospered.

For their wonderful service to Rex and Lona Lee, the family tenderly imparts their gratitude to: Collin Bingham and others with IHC Hospice Care; and to Bob DeVilla and others at Beehive Senior Care.

In lieu of flowers or plants, please share your memories of Rex with the family. At the services a stack of original “punch cards” (note cards from his years at I.B.M.) will be available for writing your memories. Or go to an airshow. Or learn HAM Radio in his honor.

Services will be held Friday, October 16, 2026, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Heritage Park 2nd Ward Building, 5233 South 3200 West, Taylorsville, Utah, 84129. The family receiving line begins at 9:30 am until 10:30 am, followed by Funeral Services at 11:00 am. A family luncheon will follow. Interment will be conducted at the Utah Veterans Cemetery & Memorial Park in Bluffdale, 11 am on Tuesday, October 20, 2026—Rex would offer that this is not a “required formation.”

Funeral Services will be live streamed: https://zoom.us/j/99995098013