George J. Badger

George Junior Badger passed peacefully on Sunday 19 November 2023 in South Jordon, UT at the age of 98.

George was born 28 March 1925, at home, in Heyburn, ID to Eva Jane Larsen and George Ephraim Badger. He was the eighth of nine children including sisters: Lillie May, Elsie, Erma, Mary, and brothers: Russel, Harvey, Marvin (Mike), and Glen, all of whom preceded him in death.

George attended grades 1 -12 in Heyburn, ID, graduating from Heyburn High School in 1943. George was inducted into the U.S. Marine Corps in March of 1944, serving in the 5th Medical Battalion, 5th Marine Division until discharge in the summer of 1946.

Upon his return home from the Pacific, George enrolled at Utah State University, taking advantage of the GI Bill. George’s interests soon extended beyond academics to girls, and George met his future bride Joyce Wilson of Brigham City, Utah. As they courted, Joyce encouraged George to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In 1947 George was called to serve in the Central Pacific Mission.

At the conclusion of George’s mission, Joyce flew to Honolulu on PanAm’s Pacific Clipper, and Joyce and George were married on 23 November 1949, for Time and All Eternity, in the Laie, HI Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints. The couple honeymooned briefly in the islands and then returned to the mainland, via San Fransisco, on the SS Lurline, and then on by train to Salt Lake City, UT where George reported on his mission.

He resumed his studies at Utah State, where Joyce graduated in 1950 and George followed in 1952. Daughter Valerie joined their young family while they were in Logan, UT. George was accepted to graduate school at Stanford University and the family moved to Palo Alto, CA. Upon graduation from Stanford, George began his teaching career in Portola, CA. While teaching in Portola, sons Bryan and Paul joined the family.

Despite having been granted tenure in Portola, a decision to “move on,” landed George and Joyce in Newport Beach, CA in 1957, where George took a teaching position at Newport Harbor High School, a position that he held until his retirement in 1984. Son David joined the family in Newport, and life was filled with home ownership, raising a family, and serving in various church callings. His hobbies included: reading, cooking, garage sales, and furniture refinishing.

Joyce passed, much too young, in 1980 after a short battle with cancer and was sorely missed after 31 years of marriage.

With the three older children grown and married, and the youngest serving a mission in Spain, George was introduced to Winifred “Wini” Willardson by mutual friends. Wini had lost her husband Drue some years earlier. George and Wini were married in March of 1983 and took residence in Irvine, CA. George was blessed with another 31 years of happy marriage until Wini’s passing in 2013. George and Wini brought two great families together and created a home that all loved to visit frequently.

George moved to Sagewood retirement community in South Jordon, UT in 2016 where he made many new friends, enjoyed hosting old friends along with members of his growing family.

George’s Legacy includes Children: Valerie (Stephen), Bryan (Lisa), Paul (Kim), and David (Delilah). Step-Children include: Jeffrey (Laurie), Robert (Linda) Thomas (Valerie), Bruce (Stacey), Karen (Steven); 35 Grand-Children and 99 Great- Grandchildren.

George’s family wishes to express sincere gratitude to staff and residents, ward family members, and medical providers for their great friendship and care during his years at Sagewood.