John Pixton

John Howard Pixton, 88, died peacefully on February 21, 2019, in Alpine, Utah. He was born on January 27, 1931, in Fillmore, Utah, to Robert LeRoy Pixton and Emma Schmidt, the 7th of 12 children. He married Ruth Margene Nielsen on August 31, 1955, in the Salt Lake City Temple.

Howard Pixton was a loving and attentive husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend. He valued his testimony of the Savior, his family, and relationships above all else. He graduated from Jordan High School in 1950. Howard served in the United States Air Force, Corporal (Airman Second Class), from 1951 to 1955, with the 3rd Motor Transport Squadron during the Korean War. Howard received his High School Teachers Certificate from the University of Utah in 1959. He later obtained his Master of Arts in the Teaching of Biological  Science from Washington State University in 1975.

Howard and Margene raised a family of six children in Fontana, California. Known by so many as “Mr. Pixton,” he taught science, mostly biology, from 1960 to 1996, at Fontana Junior High and Fontana High School. He was also a tax counselor for over 35 years, and during summers he worked as an assistant at Ingold Funeral Chapel in Fontana.

Howard served as Bishop of the Fontana 2nd Ward from 1992-1996. Once retired, Howard and Margene moved to Alpine, Utah. They served in the Wisconsin Milwaukee Mission from September 1999 to February 2001. Howard also served as a temple ordinance worker in the Timpanogos Utah Temple from 2016 to 2018.

Howard loved the outdoors. He could not take his children on an outdoor adventure without giving biology and geology lessons during the outing. Over a period of four summers he backpacked the entire John Muir Trail with his children and family friends. He loved camping, backpacking, fishing, and vacations with his family. He often reminisced about growing up on a farm and how much he loved riding his horse, Lady, through the Draper hills in Utah. He was a vibrant storyteller, he loved the scriptures, and he was an avid reader.

Survivors include: his wife Margene, children: RoLayne (Gary) Bury, Bradley (Kimbelyn) Pixton, Janet (Martin) Southwick, Jennifer (David) Pulice, and Erin (William) Nelson, 28 grandchildren, 43 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great grandchild, his daughter-in-law June Pixton, and siblings: Joanne Neff, Gayle Vest, and Sylvia Arterburn. He is preceded in death by his son, Shaun Pixton, his parents, one brother, and seven sisters.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, February 28, 2019 at 11 am at the Alpine 4th ward chapel, 910 South High Bench Road, Alpine, 84004. A viewing will be held prior to the service from 9:45-10:45 am and on Wednesday, February 27, 2019, from 6-8 pm at Anderson & Sons Lone Peak Chapel, 6141 West 11000 North, Highland, 84003. Burial in the Highland Cemetery. Please share a memory at andersonmortuary.com.