Paul Arnold Trotter
Arnold Trotter was born September 25, 1928, in Huntsville, Utah to Arnold DeWitt and Louisa Price Trotter, where his father owned and ran a 1000-acre sheep ranch with 5,000 sheep. The ranch fell victim to the great depression, and consequently, Paul and his family moved to Provo in 1936 and bought a home where Brigham Young University’s Helaman Halls dormitories stand today.
As a young man, Paul delivered newspapers in and around BYU, including to the University President Franklin S. Harris. He served as a missionary in the Northern States Mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1949-1951 and graduated from BYU with a degree in marketing in 1953.
Paul’s sweetheart, Margo Boswell, came into his life on a blind date, after which he courted her long distance from Provo while she worked at the main lodge in Zions National Park. They were married on May 26, 1955, in the Manti Utah Temple and were blessed with five children. Their love letters during their courtship are legendary among their children.
Paul was an example of ingenuity, gentle strength, steadiness, and security. He worked at Geneva Steel Corporation in the Accounting Department for more than 35 years, briefly working on the Union Pacific Railroad when steel workers went on strike in the late 1950’s.
He was a hard worker, building the family home in Salem, Utah after work and on the weekends. Paul loved the outdoors. He was an avid skier, hiker, canoer on the Provo River, deer hunter, and gardener. He taught his wife and five children how to ski at Sundance (Timp Haven), Alta and Brighton.
As a teenager, his daughter Lisa nominated him as “Father of the Year” in a radio contest and won. It embarrassed him to be talked about on the radio and asked Lisa, “Why in the world would you nominate me?” Lisa and the rest of us knew — because he truly was the father of the year.
He was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where he served for years as a ward clerk, in the bishopric, and as Scoutmaster helping numerous young men attain the rank of Eagle Scout. He received the Silver Beaver Award because of his service in the Boy Scouts of America. In his later years, Paul was an avid ATV enthusiast and spent many years with his daughter Lesli and her husband Stan Cole riding trails from Moab to Mt. Nebo.
Most importantly, he was an example to his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of integrity, honesty, hard work, and what it means to live a Christlike life. Many people look to Paul and Margo as shining examples of those who live the gospel.
Paul is survived by his wife of 67 years, Margo Boswell; children: Stan (Lesli) Cole, Kris (Lisa) Cole, Scott (Michele) Trotter, Mark (Sherry) Trotter and Wally (Marnae) Trotter, plus 20 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be Wednesday, July 20, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at the Salem Woodland Hills Stake Center, 555 West 11200 South, Salem, Utah 84653. Family and friends may gather for a visitation Tuesday evening, also at the church, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and again Wednesday morning from 9:45 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. prior to the funeral. Interment will be at Salem City Cemetery 130 East 965 South, Salem, Utah 84653