Lucian Thatcher Farr has left behind the challenges of the cancer he faced with courage and has re-joined his Heavenly Father.
He was born in the small town of Arimo, Idaho to Lucian Coridan Farr, Jr., and Mary Elizabeth (Bessie) Lufkin Farr. Farm life provided the ideal setting for adventure for a boy who enjoyed riding horses, playing cops and robbers, swimming in canals (ice skating on them in winter), sleigh riding and tobogganing.
Farm life also served as the basis for the strong work ethic Lucian developed.
He attended schools in Arimo and Pocatello before graduating from Blackfoot High School. He also attended the University of Utah.
In 1942 Lucian's life was blessed when he married his high school sweetheart, Juanita Wright. The newlyweds made their home in Long Beach, California until Lucian was drafted into the Army Air Corps in January of 1943.
His pilot training took him to Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and finally Idaho before he reported for duty with the Eighth Air Force in England. He served as a B-24 Liberator Bomber Pilot in the 445th Bomb Group, Second Air Division, Eighth Air Force during World War II. He was a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross. Following his discharge from the service in 1945, Lucian and Juanita moved to Salt Lake City where they have resided since, raising their family and being active members of their church.
Lucian retired from his career as a civilian employee at Hill Air Force Base in January 1984 but only after being exposed to dirt bike riding (first his Gilera and then a Bull Taco) and snowmobiling adventures with his working buddies Phil Eckersley and Dee Kunz.
He made lifelong friendships easily and was the instigator - and recipient - of many a practical joke.
After his retirement from HAFB, Lucian and Juanita served a mission in the Philippines serving under the leadership of their dear friends Lowell and Connie Leishman. Service to the Lord was nothing new for Lucian, having served as Bishop, seventies quorum president, and counselor to the stake president.
Lucian is survived by his loving wife of 64 years and their five children: Patsy J. (Mike) Goo, Terry T. (Dianne) Farr, Brian L. (Jayne) Farr, Sheryl L.(Stephen) Schowengerdt, Shirley J. Kawabata, 15 grandchildren and 5 1/3 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Ladorna Armstrong, brother Coridan E."Ted" Farr and one grandson.
Funeral services will be held Saturday March 24, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. at the Twenty Ninth Ward (1100 West 500 North, Salt Lake City), with viewing from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. Friends may also call on Friday March 23, 2007 at the Twenty Ninth Ward from 6 to 8 p.m. Interment at Mount Olivet Cemetery under the direction of SereniCare Funeral Home.
The family expresses special thanks to Intermountain Homecare Hospice for their attentive and loving care for making Lucian's final days comfortable with Juanita at his side.