Jan. 29, 1919 - Sep. 29, 2013
Date of Service: Oct. 2, 2013
Orvis Dilworth
BURLEY – Orvis Dilworth, 94, of Burley, passed away on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2013, at the Warren House in Burley.
Orvis was born on Jan. 29, 1919, in Carey, Idaho, the son of Joseph Gibbons and Miriam Pendleton Howard Dilworth. He attended school in Carey. He served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Central States Mission. When he was 23, he enlisted in 2nd Marine Division, 10th Regiment, 4th Battalion, and Health Service Battery. He served for three and a half years during World War II from 1942 to 1945 where he fought in major battles in Tarawa, Tinian, and Saipan. He was stationed in New Zealand for a year and Hawaii for six months. He was at sea for several months, riding different transport ships while serving his country in the South Pacific.
Before enlisting in the Marines, he was farming 360 acres in Carey. He had planned on being a farmer, but fate took its course during a routine inspection in the Marines. They (the Marines) needed a company barber. Orvis jokingly whispered to the man next to him that he had sheared a sheep once. Immediately, the man shouted to the General, “This man has sheared a sheep!” The General told Orvis he was hired and he would have plenty of business.
On July 6, 1945, Orvis married his sweetheart, Florence Arvilla Winward, in Vallejo, Calif. Six days later, on July 12, 1945, they were sealed in the Logan Utah LDS Temple for time and all eternity. Together, they raised six children and opened their home to two Indian placement students and one exchange student from Mexico. Their home was a place where people were always welcome.
Orvis was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints serving in many church callings.
Orvis saw a lot of history in his lifetime from the horse and buggy to modern technology. He was a man of many trades: farming, construction, house mover, truck driver, fix-it-all, and his main trade – barber. He cut hair in Carey, at the Mountain Home Air Force Base, and he owned a barbershop in Burley where he cut hair for the last 51 years providing his customers with haircuts using scissors, clippers, razors, and fire. He retired from barbering at the age 93 after cutting hair for more than 71 years. He had many customers who came to his chair – not just to get their hair cut but to listen to his endless repertoire of stories.
He was a very caring person who tried to help those in need. He always planted a very large garden so he could share it with his family and friends. He took pride in making knives out of saw blades and enjoyed sharpening tools.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Florence; his parents; two brothers, Stanley Dilworth and Melvin Dilworth; and three sisters, Vida Thompson, Emily Bell, and Leah Neilson.
Survivors include his children, Kenneth (Willa Rae) Dilworth of Vernal, Utah, Glendon (Kathy) Dilworth of Burley, Cheryl (Robert) Jolley of Vernal, Utah, Lamar (Teresa) Dilworth of Pocatello, Deborah (Brad) Rogers of Paul, and Dena (Kyle) Bodily of Burley; 35 grandchildren; 47 great-grandchildren; one brother, Marold Dilworth of Gooding; and a sister, Leora Adams of Meridian.
The family would like to express sincere gratitude to the Warren House staff for their wonderful care and compassion, and to Dr. Joseph Peterson, Dr. James Spackman, and to the many medical professionals that provided care for him. A special thank-you to Orvis’ friends and customers.
The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2, at the Burley LDS Stake Center, 2050 Normal Ave., in Burley, with Bishop Larry Kloepfer officiating. Burial will be in the Pleasant View Cemetery with military rites provided by the Mini-Cassia Veterans Organization.
Friends may call from 6 until 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1, at the Rasmussen Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley, and from 10 until 10:45 a.m. Wednesday at the church.
