Robert Vern King

Robert King peacefully graduated to the next life on Tuesday, April 27th, 2021, surrounded by members of his family, including his beloved wife, Renee.

Robert Vern King was born on June 29th, 1955, in Rupert, Idaho to Vern William and Alyce Bair King. With his brother and four sisters, Robert helped his parents on the farm they homesteaded on the north side of Rupert. After graduating high school and attending Brigham Young University for a year, Robert served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Montreal Canada, speaking French.

Following his mission, Robert returned to BYU where he played the trombone in the Young Ambassadors and Synthesis (BYU's premier Jazz big band), met and married Renee Southwick in the Salt Lake Temple, welcomed the first two children of an eventual six, and received both a Bachelor's and Master's degree in civil engineering.

After stints for a private engineering firm in Oregon and the USDA Soil Conservation Service in Washington, he started a 34 year career as a senior engineer for the Division of Water Resources for the state of Utah, where he came to be known for his incredible memory and understanding of the complex issues and history surrounding the Colorado River Compact.

Robert enjoyed serving in many capacities for the Church of Jesus Christ, including in elder's quorum presidencies, high priest group leadership, bishoprics, high councils, as Scoutmaster, and in his favorite calling as a gospel doctrine teacher. He is also well remembered for singing enthusiastically in his outsized baritone voice.

Robert was a great reader and especially loved the books of Louis L'Amour. He also enjoyed taking his family camping, which was an annual summer pastime, and taking his kids to visit any and all dams. He was incredibly knowledgeable about many subjects and for so many consecutive summers won the annual Water Resources trivia contest that it was canceled as pointless--everyone knew Robert would win. He will be remembered as a dedicated husband and father who loved his family and his God.

Robert is survived by his wife, Renee, and their six children: Clinton (April) King, Michelle (Tyrel) Loertscher, Travis (Kayla) King, Jeffrey King, Dianna (Alberto) Diaz, Vanessa (Corey) Harlos, and 13 grandchildren. He is also survived by his mother Alyce King, his brother Mark (Kitty) King, and sisters Ronda (Kent) Dalton, Marla (Mike) McLeod and Beverly Kinsey. He was preceded in death by his father Vern King, his youngest sister Bernice, and grandsons Leif and Erik Loertscher.

The family would especially like to thank the medical professionals and hospice care for their help and support over several years.

A viewing is scheduled for 9:30 AM on Saturday, May 1st, 2021 located at 7580 Abbotsbury Lane, West Jordan, UT 84081 with funeral services to follow at Noon. Interment will be at the Herriman Cemetery following the funeral.