ST. GEORGE, UT- Denise Dalton McArthur, age 80, passed away at home on Aug. 21, 2000.
Denise was born in St. George on March 21, 1920 to Harvey and Margarett Gub-ler Dalton as the second child and first daughter of a family that eventually num-bered two boys and five girls. She was raised in Hurricane, Utah and graduated from Hurricane High School in 1939. She attended Branch Agricultural College (now Southern Utah University) in Cedar City prior to her June 18, 1940 marriage to Eldon McArthur in the St. George LDS Temple. After some early moves to Washington State and Texas in response to Eldon's World War II obligations, Eldon and Denise have made their home in the same St. George neighborhood since 1945.
Denise was a devoted and loving wife and exemplary mother to her eight children. She supported her husband in his professional and ecclesiastical responsibilities including local, district, national, and international Rotary Club activities and at McArthur Welding from its inception and growth until May of this year.
She enjoyed sewing, music (she played the violin), literature (reading, literary clubs, poems), morning walks, the outdoors, but most of all her family. She was a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, who lead by example, integrity, patience, and positive reinforcement and most of all, gentle love, that was reciprocated to her by her family.
She served the LDS Church with devotion in the Relief Society as a member of presidencies and as a faithful visiting teacher, in the Primary as a teacher and officer, as a St. George Temple Ordinance Worker, and in other capacities.
Eldon and Denise were recently honored by their family and friends in a 60th wedding anniversary and 80th birthday celebration; one hundred immediate (descendants and spouses) family members were present in addition to many other family and friends. Denise lived a full and rewarding life but since 1950 she has coped with heart problems brought on by rheumatic fever. She had a miraculous major heart surgery in 1957 when she was six months pregnant with her seventh child and subsequent major heart valve-replacement surgeries in 1981 and 1991. Eldon supported, nurtured, and encouraged her through these trials with faith, love, and willpower. Their mutual devotion is a shining example.
Denise is survived by her husband and eight children: Eldon Durant (Virginia), Orem; Janice (Bruce Hepworth), Hurricane; Allene (Marvin Price), Blackfoot, ID; Daniel Dalton (Bunny), St. George; Samuel James (Gai), St. George; Marianne (Douglas Barton), Manti; Kim (Hayven Dunn), Orem; and Joseph Duncan (fiancee, Michelle Luke), St. George; and by 45 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by sisters Mae (Ross J. McArthur) of Orem and Joleen (Reese Casperson) of West Valley; brother, Harvey G. Dalton (Lee), Holliday. She was preceded in death by her brother Gladen G. Dalton (Grace) and sisters Aleath (Gerald Gifford) and Fae (Thomas P. McArthur) and by a grandson, Page M. Hepworth.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 26 at 11 a.m. at the St. George Sixth Ward Chapel (4th East, 1st South). Viewing will be Friday evening, August 25, from 7-9 p.m. at Spilsbury & Beard 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.