John R. Moyer

John R. Moyer, of Salt Lake City, Utah, passed on Saturday, February 6, 2021, at the age of 98 years old.
He died peacefully of sound mind, with his family near.
John was born on May 11, 1922, in Wabash, Indiana, to Ralf L. and Ophelia (Shoemaker) Moyer. John
spent his early years in Indiana, later moving to Southern California with his family when he was a
teenager.
As a young man, John enjoyed long days at the beach and flashing his handsome smile for the girls at
the dance halls. John was tall and athletic, enjoying sports and physical activity throughout his life.
John enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, (USMC) to serve his nation in WWII. He served as a
Marine Raider, specializing as a rifle sharpshooter/automatic rifleman in the Pacific, (April 1943 to
November 1945). John fought in Bougainville/BSI (November 1943- January 1944), The Emirau
Islands/St. Matthias Group, (March 1944- April 1944), Guam/Marianas Islands,(April 1944- June 1945),
Okinawa/Ryukyu Islands, (April 1945-June 945), and participated in the occupation of Japan. John was
honorably discharged in 1945. He was proud of his time in the Marines and could often be heard proudly
recanting ‘Semper-Fi’, beaming in his signature USMC baseball cap or sweatshirt.
Shortly after returning from WWII, he met his wife and the love of his life, Vivian Dorothy Tully. They
married, December 17th, 1946, and began to build their life together. John and Vivian had three
daughters, Diane Moyer Ricci, (John Ricci), Nancy Moyer Benns (Kimble Benns), and Valerie Moyer.
John built a career with McCormick Schilling, working in sales until retirement. A promotion to Zone
Manager in 1976 led to a move to Salt Lake City, Utah, with his wife Vivian and youngest daughter
Valerie Moyer.
In John’s later years he enjoyed reading novels, (especially spy novels), solving daily crosswords,
spending time with family, and listening to big band music. He enjoyed Sunday dinners and sweets!
John’s love for sports continued on through middle age and into retirement, sharing his love for golf and
tennis with his grandsons. John was devoted, kind, and generous, always giving to his family, and striving
to help them succeed. John was a strong and good man, one of the last of the Greatest Generation, to
whom we owe our liberty. He will be dearly missed!
John is preceded in death by his wife Vivian, parents, Ralf L. and Ophelia (Shoemaker) Moyer, his
siblings, (Dorthy McGady), (Robert Moyer),(Mary Tharp) and his oldest daughter Diane Moyer Ricci.
John is survived by his daughters Nancy Moyer Benns, Valerie Moyer, his five grandchildren; Ryan Ricci,
Joseph Ricci, Sarah Ricci Cooper, Rosemary Ricci, Dominique Oster, and ten great-grandchildren.
A graveside service will be held on Thursday, February 11th at 11:00am.
Location, Mountain View Memorial 3115 E. 7800 S. Cottonwood Heights Utah
Service Information

Graveside Service
February 11, 2021 at 11:00AM - 12:00PM
Memorial Mountain View Cemetery