Our dear old Dad is turning 90 tomorrow, so I thought I would write up a short post about his life.
Dad was the third in a family of five, and he spent his early years on the family farm in North Ogden.
He taught himself to read before entering school, and his books were his most prized possessions. His mom, my Grandma Compton, used to like to tell a story about him deciding to run away one day. He packed his little red wagon with his books and was ready to go. He didn't feel that any other clothes or toys were necessary.
Merlin in a Jr. Genealogy Class, on the front row, second to left. His brother Lane in in the third row, third from left.
After graduating from Ogden High School, he served three years in the Army Air Force during World War II, as an airplane instrument technician.
He went from the military to the mission field, as a missionary in the Spanish American mission. It was there that he met my mother who was also a missionary.
She was very impressed with his Spanish speaking abilities, his
appreciation for classical music, and his religious faith. The
missionaries had their meals together and studied together, which gave
them a chance to get to know each other. She wrote all about her
impressions of "Elder C," in her illustrated missionary diary which we now read and
enjoy. She was released from her mission in January of 1948, and Dad still had 2 years to serve, so they wrote to each other and got to know each other by mail.
On Christmas Eve, 1949, Dad was released from his mission and my Mom was waiting for him at his parents house. They had a very happy six months courting, going to movies, family dinners, church, and planning for their future together. These are the only pictures I know of that were taken in their courting days.
My parents were married on June 17, 1950 in the Salt Lake Temple. They honeymooned to Southern Utah and toured Zion and Bryce, stopping to do temple sessions at the Manti and St. George Temple.
My parents raised their family while my dad attended school at Weber State and BYU for his BA, BYU for his Master's Degree, and UCLA for his Ph.D. They didn't have much money, but worked hard and made do. The family spent several summers living in Bryce Canyon and one summer in Zion National Park where my dad worked as a ranger.
Upon graduating, my Dad worked at Adam's State College, Weber State, and BYU as a Spanish Professor. We enjoyed growing up in Provo and going on campus for special occasions to the Cougareat and bowling at the Wilkinson Center. We had very happy times growing up in Provo, with he and my mom hosting many parties and get togethers.
In 1975 we lived in Madrid, Spain where Dad was the director of the BYU Study Abroad Program. We kids were able to take classes from Dad and experience his dedicated teaching style.
Can you spot him in the above photo? He is the third to the left. He blended right in with the locals.
In 1978 he lived in Lima, Peru while doing research on the writer Ricardo Palma.
In 1979 and 1982 he was the director for BYU Study Abroad in Mexico. It was there that my brother Tim met his future wife, and how glad we are that got to know each other!
My Dad wrote and published five books about Ricardo Palma during his life. Some are in Spanish and some in English:
Ricardo Palma wrote very entertaining little stories called "traditions," a new genre he invented. Dad was one of the first to publish them in English. His most recent book, "Peruvian Traditions," is in English and I recommend it. You can buy it from Barnes & Noble or Amazon. In January 2000, he was honored for his work by being given an honorary professorship at the Ricardo Palma University in Lima Peru. He was interviewed by newspapers and radio stations while he was there.
As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, he has served in various callings during his life, including being the branch president of the Utah State Hospital branch, and Bishop of the Provo 22nd Ward from 1979 - 1984.
Provo 22nd Ward, 1979
He and my mother served a mission in St. George at the church historical sites and temple visitor's center from 1990 - 1991.
He currently sings in his ward choir (and always has).
He has also done name extraction for the church's genealogical program for over 20 years.
He has always been an impressive tennis player and competed in the Hunstman World Senior Games for over 20 years. He won many medals during the games and was given an award for having participated for 15 years in the games. When he was a professor, he issued a challenge to his students that if any of them could beat him, he would host an enchilada party at his house for the whole class. This only happened a few times in all his years as a professor.
My dad was a wonderful husband and was very in love with his sweetheart throughout their 62 year marriage. During my mother's last years when she was very limited by Alzheimers, he did everything he could to care for her and show his love for her, including the beautiful poems that are in this blog. Their wedding anniversaries have been special with a nice open house and family events. I always admired how my parents had an equal partnership and seemed to always make important decisions together after talking things through and listening to each other. My parents supported and encouraged each other during challenging times, and my dad was proud of my mother's accomplishments as an author and business woman. He continues to write about her and admire her to this day.
Currently my dad stays busy with writing projects, and family history. He has written biographies for his parents, my mother, his own autobiography and biographies for several other ancestors. He has met with his siblings and spearheaded efforts to preserve family history and photos. I have really enjoyed working with him to organize and digitize many family documents and journals. He has enjoyed reading my mom's voluminous journals and letters, and we keep her memory alive that way.
Recently my dad has been able to travel to visit Todd and his family in California, and Tim and his family in Michigan. He always wrote about the things they did and sights they saw.
He heads up our family reunions each year, and has treated us all to Lagoon, This is the Place Deseret Village, and the Dead Sea Scrolls Exhibit.
We enjoy going to concerts and dinner together, and a monthly sing a long in his apartment building. He has even performed some solos at the sing a longs and says he is proud that he can do that at his age.
He is a wonderful grandpa to his grandchildren and great grandchildren and is always interested in what they are doing and how they are.
Happy Birthday Dad, we love you.
