Anna Walser

Anna Maria Rodríguez (McIntire) Walser, 73, passed away unexpectedly Sunday, April 23, 2017, in St. George, Utah, with her husband Ron at her side.

She was born October 2, 1943, in San Antonio, Texas, to Carlos Canchola Rodríguez and Elena Sánchez. Her family moved to Chicago when she was a young girl, later relocated to Norwalk, California, and settled in Fullerton, California. She graduated from Fullerton Union High School in 1961. She met Earl H. (Hank) McIntire, II, in her high-school geometry class. They married in 1962 and were blessed with eight children: Hank (Lori), Tanise (Kaiwi) Chung-Hoon, Tara (Russ) Fryer, Tracie (Jared) Fillerup, Tana (Nathan) Hallows, Michael (Joanna), Aaron (Candice), and Matt (Beth).

In 1968, Anna and Hank joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while living in Garden Grove, California. A year later they were sealed in the Los Angeles Temple, and the next year they moved to Wymount Terrace in Provo, Utah, so that  Hank could attend BYU. After graduation in 1973 they moved to Chandler, Arizona. In 1977, they returned to Utah to reside in Orem.

Anna and Hank divorced in 1986, and Anna spent the next 25 years as a single mother, sending one daughter and four sons on LDS Church missions. She was employed at Nature’s Sunshine in Spanish Fork for a number of years and also worked in the insurance industry. She then returned to the classroom to obtain her bachelor’s degree at Brigham Young University and her Master of Social Work from the University of Utah. She began doctoral work at Brigham Young University.

In 2011, Anna met and married Ron Walser. They were sealed in the Mount Timpanogos Temple. They lived in Pasco, Washington; Mesquite, Nevada; and Hurricane, Utah. She delighted in her sweet husband Ron and his children Loni (Steve), Shelly (Kevin), Shannon (Tom), Brook (Dave), Annie (Jeremy), Ron (Adrienne), and John.

Anna’s church service included callings in a number of organizations. As a three-year church member she was called as a Relief Society president in a married-student BYU ward. She served as a service missionary in Monterrey, Mexico, as a single sister and later served in the Washington Kennewick Mission with her husband Ron. She was also a temple worker for several years—her favorite calling. She finished her earthly church service as a gospel-doctrine teacher in the Hurricane 7th Ward, Hurricane Utah West Stake.

Anna loved family history, traveling, maintaining ties with extended family, making new friends, and reconnecting with old ones. She never met a garage sale she didn’t like, and her generosity and kindness touched all who knew her. She was particularly sensitive to strangers in need and did all she could to help them.

Her faith was precious to her, and throughout her life she enjoyed a close, spiritual connection with those in the Spirit World. The thousands of ordinances she performed or arranged in the temple for her ancestors undoubtedly resulted in a large, happy reunion as she passed to the other side.

Her greatest joy was family. She delighted in her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She is survived by her husband, Ron Walser; her eight children; his seven children; her 43 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren; and Ron’s 21 grandchildren; a brother, Bob Rodríguez; and sisters Marty Dreves and Linda Nikkhoo. Anna was preceded in death by her parents; brothers Charlie, Albert, and David; and grandsons Rhett Fillerup and Hudson Crandall.

A viewing will be held at the Sundberg-Olpin Funeral Home at 495 South State Street in Orem, Utah, on Thursday, April 27, 2017, from 6 to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 28, 2017, at the Lindon 3rd Ward at 320 West 500 North in Lindon, Utah, with a viewing immediately prior from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.

Interment will be at the Orem City Cemetery after the funeral at 1520 North 800 East in Orem.

Condolences may be left for the family on this site.