Fauntleroy Hunsaker

Son of Lewis Adams and Sarah Ellen Warner

Married Mamie Priscilla Adams, 25 Jun 1930, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah

Obituary - Fauntleroy Hunsaker, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, friend, who will be greatly missed, passed away 29 March 1995, at the age of 91 in Centerville, Utah.

He was born 7 November 1903, in Elwood, Utah to Lewis Hunsaker and Sarah Ellen Warner. He was the fourth of 13 children. He married Mamie Priscilla Adams, 25 June 1930, in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. She passed away 24 July 1964. He married Ruth Alquist Hart, 11 November 1965, in the Salt Lake Temple.He graduated from Bear River High in Tremonton, Utah and received his Doctor of Optometry Degree from the Los Angeles College of Optometry. He attended the Southern California College of Optometry Graduate School and was on the Board of Trustees for 15 years, serving as president for two years.

He was an enormously dedicated and outstanding optometrist, with integrity and concern for all in his care. He practiced optometry for 57 years, 35 years in private practice in East Los Angeles and Alhambra, California, and 22 years in Salt Lake, retiring at age 88.

His legacy to his family and all those whose lives he touched was his unwavering testimony of Our Lord Jesus Christ and His Restored Gospel. Devoting his life to his service, his motto was "never to say no to a church calling or service to others." He exemplified the life of the Savior with a gentle spirit and great love for all. He had the ability to make friends easily and keep them. He was a great force, influencing many lives for good.

His church service began at an early age, serving as president of his deacons, teachers and elders quorums. In 1923-25 he served a mission in the Southern States. He was president of the Sunday School and then bishop of the Boyle Heights and Alta Vista Wards in Califonia. He served on the High Council of the Los Angeles Stake and as senior member of the High Council in Pasadena Stake. From 1941-50 he was in the stake presidency of the Pasadena Stake. When that stake was divided in 1950, he was called as the stake president of the new East Los Angeles Stake, while his close friend, Howard W. Hunter, was called as president of the Pasadena Stake. During his 13 years as stake president, he served as chairman of the Church Board of Education for Southern California, chairman of the Regional Welfare Committee, Chairman of the Finance Committee for the construction of the East Los Angeles Stake Center and Chairman of the Finance Committee for the construction of the Los Angeles Temple. He was also a member of the Advisory Board of Brigham Young University Alumni Association for 10 years. As an expression of their love, the members of the East Los Angeles Stake presented him a with Hammond organ, a gift he enjoyed for the remainder of his life.

In 1963, he was called to preside over the Southern States Mission, comprising Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina. In 1965 he was called to the General Church Welfare Committee, traveling throughout the South Pacific, U.S. and Canada. In 1984 he was ordained a patriarch of Centerville, Utah South Stake.

Temple work and genealogy were always the center of his church service. In 1965 he was set apart as a sealer in the Salt Lake Temple by President David O. McKay. In 1966 he was sustained as a Counselor in the Salt Lake Temple Presidency. As chairman of the Hunsaker Family Genealogical Committee he assisted in submitting 30,000 names for temple ordinances.

Throughout his life he made each family member feel valued and cherished. His keen wit and sense of humor and his story-telling and musical talents blessed the lives of family and friends. He had a great love and talent for music. He began as a yough playing the pump organ and piano. He played trumpet in the Bear River High School Band. Later he learned to play the harmonica and accordion.

He is survived by: His wife, Ruth; three sons, Vern A. (Lauraloe) Hunsaker, Gordon P. (Sherlene) Hunsaker, Thomas G. (Louann) Hunsaker; two daughters, Kathryn H. (Russell) Spencer, Sherron H. Leonard; 32 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; three brothers, Burnice Hunsaker, Lloyd Hunsaker, Reginald Hunsaker, and one sister, Marjorie H. (Duke) Keller.

Funeral services will be held Monday, April 3, 1995, at 12 noon, in the Centerville South Stake Center, 270 No. 300 East. Friends may call at the stake center on Sunday, April 2, from 6 to 8 p.m. or Monday, 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Interment approximately 3 p.m., Logan City Cemetery. Funeral directors, Cottonwood Mortuary.

Deseret News, Saturday, April 1 1995 12:00 a.m. MST* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Mar 5 2020, 6:31:56 UTC