Rex Price Waldron slipped peacefully into eternity on July 24, 2023, with his daughter Lana by his side.  

Rex was born in Malad, Idaho, on July 9, 1933 to Lewis Roderick Waldron and Emma Price Waldron. He was the only boy in the family and always enjoyed being doted on by his six sisters. Rex said that he struggled in school because all he could do was look out the window and daydream about farming. He spent nearly every day of his youth helping his Dad and Uncle Charles take care of the family farm in Gwenford.

Rex married Marie Coburn on December 11, 1953 in the Logan, UT LDS temple. From this union came four daughters: Celia, Lana, Trudy, and Vicky. Later in life, much to their delight, they had two sons, Layne and Jed. Rex taught all his children the value of hard work, how to drive farm trucks at the tender age of five, and how to mentally calculate math problems. Rex and Marie later divorced.

It was often necessary for Rex to have a second job to supplement his farm income. He sold Stokermatic furnaces, Culbac plant fertilizer, Amway, and World Book Encyclopedias. He worked at the Sugar Factory in Garland, and Nucor Steel in Plymouth, Utah. He drove semi trucks, school buses for both Malad and Preston, Greyhound buses, and a delivery truck for Amway.

Rex married Donna Waldron in July 1989. Their union was sealed in the Ogden, UT LDS temple on July 27, 1990. Rex enjoyed spending time with Donna’s family, and bragged that he now had fourteen children. Together, they served an LDS mission in North Carolina from 2005 to 2007, and later served at the Conference Center at Temple Square.

Rex was a true-blue Samaria boy, spending 88 of his 90 years in his cherished hometown. He always had a ready smile and a helping hand, and he never met a stranger — everyone had a friend in Rex. A classic Good Samaritan, he often ministered to his sick, elderly and lonely neighbors. He was always happy to provide a ride and share his knowledge of local history.

Rex purchased the old Samaria Church in the late 1980s, and delighted in giving tours to anyone who knocked on the door. He frequently hosted community events in his home, and spent many happy hours behind the counter at the Blue Goose across the street. He also volunteered time caring for the Samaria Cemetery and city park.

It's appropriate that he passed away on Pioneer Day, one of his favorite holidays, as he was always so proud of his heritage.  His grandfathers on both the Price and Waldron sides of his family were among the first settlers in Samaria. Rex was a true pioneer spirit — never afraid of a little hard work, and always striving toward a prosperous and peaceful Zion for his family and neighbors.

He is survived by his loving wife of 34 years, Donna, and four sisters: EmoLou Parry, of Malad, ID; Cherril Anderson, of Malad, ID; Ruth Swenson, of Bountiful, UT; and RaLene (Boyd) Russell, of Ogden, UT. He was the proud father of his six beloved children: Celia (John) Warburton, of Iona, ID; Lana Waldron, of Provo, UT; Trudy (Steve) Waldron, of Orlando, FL; Vicky (Charles) Campbell, of St. George, UT; Layne (Jana) Waldron, of Sugar Land, TX; and Jed (Pam) Waldron, of Millville, UT. He is also survived by six of Donna’s children, who he loved as his own: Diana Kirkham, Jackie (Pat) Kennedy, Alane (Lamont) McMurtrey, Charles (Debra) Leonardson, Russell Leonardson, and Andrea (Alan) Atkinson. Between his fourteen kids and their spouses, Rex is the adored grandpa of scores of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and he loved to brag on every one of them. He also loved walks and snuggles with his sweet granddog, Lasca.

Rex was preceded in death by his parents, Lew and Emma Waldron; his sisters, Donna Lewis and Joy Neese; his stepsons, Doug Leonardson and Matt Leonardson; and his grandchildren, Micah Morris, Stacy Mortensen, Gavin Jacobsen, and Randi Jacobsen.

A viewing will be held on Friday, July 28, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 2nd Ward building (20 S 100 West, Malad, ID), with family invited to call from 6-7 p.m. and friends from 7-8 p.m. An additional viewing will be held in the same location on Saturday, July 29, from 9:30-10:30 a.m., with funeral services following at 11 a.m. Burial at the Samaria Cemetery.