Robert Lawton

Robert Arthur Lawton, 85, passed away September 27, 2017, in Provo Utah. He was born July 2,1932 in Sanford, Colorado, to Joseph Clymer Lawton and Mattie May Johnson. He married Ritva A. Kangaspunta on September 25,1957, in the Cardston Alberta Temple. She preceded him in death on July 14,1991. He married Ann Marie Doty on February 18,1994, in the Provo Utah Temple.

Robert served in the Air Force during the Korean War from 1950 to 1953 and was honorably discharged. While in the Air Force, he learned Russian from the Russian Language School in Monterey California.

He graduated with his Bachelors from BYU in 1960 in physics, earned his Master's in 1968 and a Doctorate in 1972 in Electrical Engineering from CU. Robert enjoyed a long career with the National Bureau of Standards in Boulder, Colorado. After retiring he worked as an adjutant for BYU, in the science department. He was a member of the Sons of Utah Pioneers. He learned to speak several different languages including Russian, Finnish, Danish and Spanish. Robert loved to sing in church choirs and enjoyed singing camp songs with his family while camping. He really enjoyed missionary work and family history. He was a wonderful and loving husband, father and grandfather.

Robert was a lifetime member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served 2 ½ years on a mission to Finland in 1954 to 1956. This is where he met his first wife, Ritva. In 1962-1963, he helped build the new chapel for the Boulder ward. Robert's church service included secretary in the MIA, stake missionary along with his wife, Ritva, financial clerk, seminary teacher, elder's quorum president, ward mission leader, branch leader, high priest assistant and leader. He also spent many hours in extraction and family history. Robert and his second wife, Ann Marie served 2 missions: in 1998-2000 to Asia North Siberia East Mission, serving in Vladivostock, and again to Finland in 2002-2003. He was also a temple worker in the Mt. Timpanogos temple and Provo temple.

Robert is survived by his wife, Ann Marie, 6 children: Anita (Darrell) Thomas, Burley, Idaho; Marketta (George) Aguilar, Santaquin, Utah; Anneli (John) Motter, Lehi, Utah; Michael (Esther) Lawton, Orem, Utah; Katya (Dmitry) Kadomtsev, Spanish Fork, Utah; Jonathan (Jenny) Lawton, Provo, Utah; 3 stepchildren Ben (Andrea) Boise, Idaho; Shawn (Julie) Denver, Colorado; Kimberly (Mike) Conger, Raleigh, North Carolina; along with 37 grandchildren; and 14 great grandchildren. Preceded in death by his parents and siblings Winifred, Betty, Carl, Gerald, and Frank.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, October 7, 2017 at 11 a.m., in the Suncrest Orem Stake Center at 90 North 600 West, Orem, Utah. A viewing will be held Friday, October 6, 2017, from 6-8 p.m. at the Sundberg-Olpin Mortuary located at 495 South State Street, Orem, Utah, and Saturday before the funeral from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Burial will be in the Provo City Cemetery with military rites. The family appreciates the outpouring love and prayers given in their behalf during the past few months.

Condolences may be left for the family on this page.