PDG Eldon McArthur Passed Away

On April 6, 2012, members of the Rotary Club of St. George bid farewell to a dear friend and sterling example as Eldon McArthur, age 91, passed away at home from causes incident to age. It will be noted that Eldon lived life fully to the very end. He had attended the club's meeting just 4 days earlier, regaling club members with tales from his varied experiences and participating in the day’s tour of the Dinosaur Museum. No one could suspect that this would be the last meeting of the club we would be privileged to enjoy with Eldon.

Ask members what they remember of Eldon, and the responses will be as varied as the experiences of this giant among men that lived in humble service to all he could touch. He was known not just in the community, but around the world for his love and kindness and his generosity. Each Saturday, he baked bread and delivered it to neighbors and friends, annually to guests in the VIP tent at the St. George Marathon, and to others. A favorite horseplay auction was when Eldon offered a loaf or three of bread at club meetings. He was as generous with the pomegranates that grew in his yard, making sure anyone he knew would have sufficient for their Dixie salad.

Eldon served as the horseplay religious advisor, fining members for mentioning religion during the weekly horseplay. Of course, what constituted a religious mention was sometimes as simple as saying “offer” or “son.” Getting “caught” for violating the “ban” was a source of great humor for the club members. Sometimes, the fun was instituted by the members themselves who went to great pains to contort their stories to avoid  Eldon calling out that what had been said “had something to do with religion.” Of course the BYU and Utah rivalry almost always had something to do with religion!

Eldon was sponsored into membership in the St. George Rotary Club on June 27, 1968 by Leon Jennings and has been a member nearly 44 Years. He has received the Perfect Attendance Award for 37 years in a row and will be awarded his 38th Perfect Attendance Award posthumously at the club’s annual awards ceremony. If he had to miss a meeting he always made up, and he made sure that the club secretary knew that he had made up the missed meeting.

Eldon served as President of the club during 1974-75 and later served as District Governor for District 5420 in 1987-88. He was generous to the Rotary Foundation, himself a Paul Harris Fellow plus five and responsible for making other family members Paul Harris Fellows as well. Perhaps, though, the best evidence of Eldon’s love and commitment to Rotary comes in the reflection of his son Durant, “I’m a Rotarian because of Dad. Wherever I was, he always made sure I got involved in Rotary.” Durant will be the president of the St. George Rotary Club during the 2013-14 Rotary year and is joined by two brothers who are also members of the club—Dan and Sam. Both Sam and Dan are past-presidents of the club.

Eldon was known for his incredible stories. Because of his vast experience, it was said by some that Eldon could serve as an incredibly interesting interview source for nearly any topic, especially if it related to southern Utah. One incredible tale is that of his river rafting trip through the Grand Canyon. I have posted this incredible tale as a separate article to avoid making this post too long. You can read it here.

If you wish to join family and friends in remembering and celebrating the life of Eldon McArthur, Funeral Services will be held Friday, April 13 at 11:00 am at the St. George Sixth Ward Chapel, 400 East 100 South, in St. George. Viewings will be Thursday evening, April 12, from 6:00 - 8:00 pm at Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 South Bluff Street, and an hour and a half prior to the services at the chapel. Burial will be in the St. George City Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, St. George, UT (673-2454). Family and friends are invited to sign his guest book at www.spilsburymortuary.com.

Members of the Rotary Club of St. George voted to honor Eldon by collecting funds that would be designated by his family in his honor toward one of the club’s humanitarian efforts (ie PolioPlus, Guatemala Stoves Project, etc.). If you wish to donate in Eldon’s honor, you may contact Richard Isom at secretary@stgeorgerotary.org or by phone at (435) 216-7024 for information.