William Kurt Dobson

Kurt was born on January 14, 1951 to William Ralph and LaFair Jensen Dobson. From an early age, he demonstrated wild curiosity about the world around him - especially all things with moving parts. He was the beneficiary of the kind attention of a neighbor, Delbert Williams, who Kurt credited for answering technical questions and for stoking his boundless curiosity. Mr. Williams was among the first of many friends, mentors, and colleagues who joined him on his storied avocational and professional journey.

Our mother told the story of 4-year-old Kurt making early morning visits to a neighbor who would let him remove the screws from the bottom hinges of her doors, then make another round to replace them. A scout leader, Mr. Ansjon, helped Kurt set up a work table (made by adding legs to an old door) in the basement. Kurt’s friends and siblings have many memories of hanging out around that table because that was the best way to spend time with him – and because he generously shared his knowledge and skills with everyone. He fixed radios and TVs for various neighbors, he took advantage of electronics classes at Wasatch Junior High and Skyline High School, enabling him to get a job at Music Arts (Holladay, UT) fixing amplifiers and teaching drums. A pivotal job was with UNIVAC, where he learned the complex communication protocol used to send data between their mainframes and local computer terminals. He parlayed that knowledge to start a company with his friend, Rusty Woodbury, that became DATA Corp. Kurt approached every new problem by heading directly to the edge of what was known with the confidence that whatever had already been done, he could do it better – and he was often right.

Kurt assigned a lot of importance to fun. He was always building the fastest car or motorcycle. He loved music and was an excellent drummer. He was a great skier and water-skier. He was an excellent pilot, with advanced certifications. But he was always ready and willing to work hard. He never stopped working or thinking about work he wanted to do. Until the final days of his life, Kurt was talking about returning to work. 

Kurt is survived by his wife, Eva; siblings Carmen Dobson Steggell, Kristine Dobson, James Cody Dobson, and David Clark Dobson; daughters Margaret Lela Dobson and Kirsten Dobson Rider (Matthew); a precious new grandson, Finn Cortland Rider; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews, and many dear friends and neighbors who became extended family. Pre-deceased by his son, William Cortland Dobson.

A memorial service is scheduled for Friday, January 24, at 11:00 AM at the Anderson & Goff Mortuary in Draper (11859 South 700 East). The viewing will start at 10:00 AM. Following the service, the burial will take place at Larkin Sunset Gardens (1950 East 10600 South).

The service will be livestreamed on the Anderson & Goff Mortuary Facebook Page at the following link: 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Funeral-Service---Cemetery/Anderson-Goff-Mortuary-293949407707203/

(The livestream video will appear when the service starts.)