Ronald Finch

Ronald “E” Finch
Sept. 23, 1938 – March 19, 2015
Our beloved husband, father, brother and grandfather died peacefully at age 76, survived by his wife Lila Jean Kemp and children. Viewing on March 24, 2015 from 6-8PM at Memorial Estates: 6500 S. Redwood Rd., West Jordan, UT 84123. Funeral services on March 25, 2015 at 11:00 AM at 7250 S. 300 E. Midvale, UT 84047; viewing 1 hour prior. Interment to follow at Memorial Estates.
Ron loved to serve people in need, whether friend, family or foe. Mosiah 2:17 “And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.” The family requests that that instead of flowers, Ron would have preferred that you would perform an unexpected and unsolicited act of kindness or service for someone else, in his name.
Ronald “E” Finch, Ronald, Ronnie, Ron, Dad, Grandpa was a not only a man of service, but a good polka and ballroom dancer, farmer, machinist, “shade tree” self-taught mechanic, inventor, recycler, tire collector and playful gamer of pool and air hockey. Ron served as a Counselor of the Indian Placement Program, held many callings in the Scouting Program over 20 years, enlisted in the National Guard, served an LDS Mission in Hawaii, held various church callings, loved singing in the ward choir, and was married with 5 children, had 16 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.
Ronald “E” Finch was born on September 23, 1938 to William Donald Finch and Janice Gail Stewart, in Payson Utah. Ron was the oldest child, and survived by many beloved friends (Jack Marble, Gary Finch) and family to include his siblings Carol Dawn Wood, Larry Finch (Patti Finch), LaFonda Scott (Jim Scott) and Glenda Henthorn (Kurt Henthorn). Also survived by his wife Lila Jean Kemp, children Rondalie Finch, Michael Finch (Kate Finch), Kelly Finch (Lisa Finch), Adam Finch, Lavina Williams and Rena Yazzie. Proceeded in death by his son Devin Townsend Finch, generous and loving parents Gail & Don Finch, and a great granddaughter Autumn Janyce’ Maarse, taken before her time.
A special thanks to Kimberly Baker and Absolute Compassion for providing loving care to our father, husband, brother, grandfather and great grandfather over these past few years! Even before the illnesses that took him far too soon, he survived the complications of Multiple Sclerosis since age 41, prostate cancer, multiple strokes and humbly paid penance through a especially trying time of his life.
His school activities were cut short so he could attend to his duties on the farm. He helped raise and harvest 80 acres of peas for Del Monte, milked cows, raised chickens and pigs and bailed hay with the help of a tractor. Ronnie drove the tractor and trailer while his dad loaded the dry bales of hay. He wasn’t the tallest of boys when he started driving the tractor at age 5, so in true Ronnie fashion, he engineered a solution by putting a brick on the gas pedal. Of course stopping the tractor wasn’t easy and he had many close calls, of hitting the barn, house, and fence. Let me demonstrate. He had to jump down off the seat, take the brick off the gas and put it on the break all while shifting gears and keeping his eyes on the row of the hay ahead…. all at the age of 5.
Ronnie graduated East High School in Salt Lake City, after attending Payson High School from his freshman through most of his senior year. He played the saxophone, football and acted in plays before and during his days working on the family farm.
Elder Finch served a LDS Mission in Hawaii from 1958-60, spending the majority of his time on the islands of Oahu and Kauai. The Hawaiian Islands was a foreign mission at the time. At the halfway point of his mission, Hawaii was named the 50th state of United States in August 1959. During his mission he baptized/confirmed 9 members into the church and taught English and Seminary to LDS youth. He was found worthy to serve by Bishop Henry P. Fetzer, one of the twelve apostles Delbert Leon Stapley and a First Councilmen of the Seventy S. Dilworth Young. Joseph Fielding Smith set Ron apart for his mission on Oct. 14, 1958. Just as in life, Elder Finch worked tirelessly on his mission in the service of God. He often expressed “I love this mission and everyone in it”.
While courting Lila Jean Kemp for 9 months, he danced the samba, tango jitterbug, polka, and then waltzed her to the temple where they were married on May 17, 1963 in the Logan Utah Temple. Their eyes connected across the crowded room at a church dance. Ron and Lila went to rival high schools; Lila to West High, Ron to East High, but that did not keep them from finding on another and falling in love. As a newlywed he was the Young Men’s President of the 10th ward in Salt Lake City, UT. Dad was a dedicated father and husband, turning down the opportunity to work as a Machinist at Perl Harbor to stay close to his wife and family after the passing of their third child Devin Townsend Finch, a 7-month old infant. If dad were still with us, he would express to his beautiful bride “thank you for all the laughter, endless support and the love, and for standing by me all the way to the very end.”
Ron joined the National Guard in high school, serving as a Sergeant Specialist of the 115thBattalion of Engineers. He helped to build the Boy Scout of America’s Camp Steiner after enlisting on October 30, 1956. He was called up during the Berlin Crisis, and was deployed to Fort Lewis, a United States military facility located in Tacoma, Washington just in case the Berlin Crisis had escalated into World War III. He retired from the service on July 1, 1964 two months after their first child and only daughter Rondalie was born. Having our dad at the helm during endless family motorhome vacations drew us closer and closer on trips to Yellowstone National Park, Mt. Rushmore, Flagstone Village, Disneyland, Ponderosa Village where they filed Bonanza, Universal Studios, Knott’s Berry Farm, and an endless number of Wax Museums (dad’s favorite) and even an alligator farm. Let’s not forget our trips to at least one hospital emergency room in every state.
Ron loved working with his hands, tinkering on projects; taking things apart and putting them back together again. It was no wonder that he gravitated toward a career as a Machinist. He worked at Herb & Mach Machine Co. (which later changed its name to Heinhold Engineering & Machine Co.) before and after his LDS Mission. He also worked for Lundy & May for 1 year before joining Kennecott Copper working as an Inspector, a Machinist and Lathe Operator and even shoveling ore into train cars, before retiring from Kennecott Copper after 32 years of service.
Retirement allowed him to tinker full-time, read for fun, study scriptures, discover new stories and connections within our family genealogy tree, and endlessly watching Matlock, Little House on the Prairie and Perry Mason. He loved spending time with his family above all. He also had endless amounts of time to be charitable to the homeless and give rides to many hitchhikers, even the hitchhiker you pick up who says he is a landscaper and his name is “Peat Moss.” He would lend a hand to anyone struggling and in need of help.
Ron took fashion cues from no one. His signature every day look was all his: a one-piece jumpsuit pair of coveralls, a pair of old school steel-toed boots, worn out socks, unshaven 5 o’clock shadow, and his hair styled with Brylcreem, resembling a stylish looking Bozo the Clown. No matter how frequently he washed, there was always reminisce of his greased-stained hands and “mechanic fingernails”. He cleaned up nice; wearing his black faux-fur-collard coat and fedora hat, resembling a classic Humphrey Bogart and Cary Grant.
His last days were the most peaceful, kind, understanding, loving, and heartfelt days of all. His personality was a perfect combination of his father’s work ethic and his mother’s temperament and ear for listing. Dad was caring, generous, compassionate and understanding. His rich history of personal experiences, trials and wisdom gave him the knowledge to provide counsel and guidance to others. He would act as a sounding board, guiding others in making the best decisions for themselves. He would offer advice if asked. In his final days he was humbled and grateful for the help and love people freely gave.
We will miss you! Thanks for reminding us to treat others with love and respect and that all obstacles can be overcome through perseverance. We were blessed to learn many valuable lessons from Ron during his 76 years, among them: Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without and that a .19¢ hamburger can be kept warm on the carburetor of a car.
For future visits to Ron’s graveside, please leave your favorite recycled artificial flowers in his memory – LOL. Dad loved his artificial flowers and would visit 50+ graves every Memorial Day making two visits, one to place a bunch of artificial flowers, and a second trip to pick them up so he could do it all over again every 12 months.
A special thanks to all those who have shown their love and support to Lila Jean Finch and Ron’s Family during this time.
Service Information
Viewing at N/A


Celebration of Life
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6500 Redwood Rd, Salt Lake City, UT 84123