Donald H Fotheringham

Donald H. Fotheringham, fourth child of Edmund & Ettie (Henrie) Fotheringham, was born December 25, 1905 in Panguitch, Utah. In 1928 he married Ruth Vandyne Barton. Don attended Garfield High School at Panguitch, then Provo High School where he was a member of the track and basketball squads. He transferred to Brigham Young High School because of an opportunity for work as janitor at BYU. Then he enrolled at BYU. During his year and a half at college he paid his own expenses, serving as janitor and as a paper boy with a route of 112 blocks. He was a good student but had little time for school activities or social accomplishments. Don and Ruth started keeping company when they were students at Garfield High School. He was a member of the basketball squad and she was cheerleader at the same school. After their marriage they made their home in Panguitch. Later they lived at their Uncle Jim Henrie’s home. Don worked at various jobs, farming, herding sheep, fur trapping. During the depression, when employment was almost at a standstill, Don joined the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). He enjoyed his work with the Forest Service very much, was in St. George on a CCC project for about a year, then worked at Veyo and Cannonville. During these years they purchased and paid for a home and lot, a car, and had three lovely, healthy children. Don was next employed as a caterpillar operator for Whiting Construction Co. Later he held a similar position for the Bracken Construction Co. at Mercur, Utah. They moved to Mercur and lived in the crude mining camp in a one-room house made of galvanized iron. These were happy years, however. Together with other young folks in the camp, they asked for and received permission from the Tooele Stake to organize various auxiliaries of the Church. Don served as Ward Teacher. Ruth served as Primary and Sunday School teacher, and as 2nd counselor in Relief Society. In 1940 Don accepted work on a construction job near Eugene, Ore., but about a month after he started, he was seriously injured and was in the Oregon Hospital for about eighteen months. In 1942, after conditions had smoothed out, Don set up a small cafe in Bingham, Utah, called “Don’s.” He did very well, and one year later he moved it to Provo. It was also called “Don’s Cafe.” This was a very successful venture during the eight years they operated it, They bought and paid for a home on Farr Avenue in Provo. Don became a member of the Provo Lions and Ruth was a Lady Lion. He served on various committees, headed the entertainment committee for two years, was director of Timpanogas Dancing Club, Lion Tamer, member of the Rod and Gun Club, and Wild Life Association. In 1948 they sold the cafe in Provo and purchased the Chief Timp Service Station and Motel in Orem, Utah. They have had good and bad times, but it is with a great deal of satisfaction they note that Dun and Bradstreet listed them among the best credit ratings in Orem. Ruth has served as a block teacher for Relief Society, She has been theology teacher and special interest leader and Bible teacher in M.I.A. They had 4 children: ( 1. ) Edmund D. “Ted” Fotheringham, b. 6 Apr. 1929, Panguitch, Utah. He joined the Navy and served during the first part of the Korean War on the Carrier Boxer. He was in charge of air conditioning and refrigeration. The ship was in the theatre of war during most of the 2½ years Ted served on her; he was a petty officer 1st class when he was honorably discharged. He attended the School of Fine Arts, studying Architecture at the University of Utah. On 12 Dec. 1953, Ted married Elaine Blackburn, at Springfield, Idaho, her home. They had one child: (a) Janica Fotheringham, born 15 Oct. 1953. (2.) Douglas V. Fotheringham, 2nd child of Donald H. & Ruth (Barton) Fotheringham, was born 3 July 1934, Panguitch, Utah. He served in the U.S. Navy and was stationed with the Fleet Air group at El Centro, Calif. A Yeomen 3rd Class, he worked is in the personnel offices. ( 3.) Joy Fotheringham, born 28 Apr. 1936, Panguitch. (4.) Gay Fotheringham, born 2 Sept. 1940, Provo, Utah. ~~ Upon the death of Ruth, Don married Vera Sevy Peterson. Don died 11 February 1988.