February 23, 1922 ~ March 17, 2017
Leo Holmes Barlow, loving father, generous grandpa, loyal friend and neighbor passed away quickly and peacefully on March 17, 2017. Leo was born in Bountiful, Utah, the fifth child of Alice Belva Welling and Israel Barlow III on February 23, 1922. He grew up, a child of the Depression with nine brothers and sisters and two half-brothers, in East Millcreek. He was a proud Granite Farmer. World War II and the Naval Air Corps provided Leo with the opportunity to travel, see the country, learn to fly planes and earn enough money to propose to our beautiful mother. Leo and Donna Rae Fullmer were married in Hutchinson, Kansas on April 13, 1945. Leo and Donna and their twins, Craig and Carol, were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple in 1958.
After only a year and a half of college, Dad attended and graduated from the University of Utah College of Law, thanks to the GI Bill. Many of Dad's law school classmates remained lifelong friends.
Dad chose a career in insurance rather than law, first with US Fidelity and Guaranty Company, then with Travelers Insurance and finally as a co-founder of Trustco Insurance Agency. He taught insurance courses for new agents for many years; was the Utah Safety Council President for a decade; and served as president of his chapter of the Sons of the Utah Pioneers for several years.
Our dad was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served with several bishops as an Executive Secretary, served and taught when called and enjoyed singing in ward choirs. He served with Donna Rae as an LDS Conference Center guide. He was a conscientious home teacher all of his life.
Dad was a natural, self-taught athlete. He ran track in high school, played tennis in younger years and golfed into his 90's. He recorded six holes-in-one and shot in the 70's for several years. He and Donna Rae played golf at Hidden Valley Country Club for five decades. His golf friends-Max, Don, Jim and Van--were also breakfast buddies as they aged. Leo's last, most teachable golf partner was his granddaughter, Alexis.
We loved and honored our mother, but we are definitely our father's children. Our earliest memories are of him reading to us-whatever he was reading. We continued to exchange books until the day he died, usually histories and mysteries, and cried over many of the same passages from our favorites. He expected us to work hard and taught us, by example, to defend our politics and principles.
Dad loved and respected strong women, including his raven-haired mother and opinionated sisters. He married a woman who had his undying esteem and nurtured and encouraged his only daughter, granddaughter and only great-granddaughter. He told each of them often, to the rueful dismay of a son, husbands, and grandsons, that they were "practically perfect in every way." He had the legendary Barlow temper (was almost thrown out of one of Craig's high school basketball games) and was wise, witty and direct in his opinions and advice.
Leo is the last of his 11 siblings to pass away. Barbara (Staker), Belva (Ashton), Dan, Joan (Hess), JW, Richard (Izzie), Alvin, Annie (Florence),Hazel (Bailey), Newell, Owen and all of their spouses, his parents and his beloved Donna Rae predeceased him.
He is survived by his son, Craig Leo (son, Jackson), his daughter Carol Barlow Lear (Jon and children Daniel, Benjamin and Alexis) and six great-grandchildren.
Leo loved and was loved by the friends and neighbors of the Neff's Canyon Ward and neighborhood.-they enriched his life and encouraged a spark of sociality. Special appreciation to Danville Services and gentle employees Mele, Elizabeth, Sherri and others and Intermountain Hospice who assisted him to live and pass comfortably in the home he loved.
A funeral service will be held on Monday, March 27, 2017 at 12 noon at the Neff's Canyon LDS meetinghouse, 4176 Adonis Drive (3950 E.), Salt Lake City. Friends may visit with family on Sunday evening from 6 until 8 p.m. at the Wasatch Lawn Mortuary,3401 South Highland Drive, Salt Lake City and before the funeral service at the meetinghouse.
"You may have tangible wealth untold; caskets of jewels and coffers of gold. Richer than I you can never be. I had a [father] who read to me.