Darrel William Stubbs

Darrel William Stubbs was born December 7, 1925, in Provo, Utah, to John William Stubbs and Ella Ritchie Stubbs. His grandparents were John Rodham Stubbs and Temperance Goodman Stubbs, and John Ritchie and Sarah McAffee Ritchie (so he is related to the Heber Valley Ritchies and McAffees). During the summer months he worked on family farms in Charleston and Edgemont, returning to Provo each fall for school, where he excelled in music and oboe. Pearl Harbor was bombed on his 16th birthday, so after graduating from Provo High in 1944, he enlisted in the Army and was shipped to Europe for combat, but the Army needed an oboist, so he was transferred to the Army band a few days before most of his previous infantry unit were killed. After the war, he returned to Provo and met Eva Stokes at BYU; they married in the Logan Temple July 26, 1946. After a B.A. in oboe performance at the University of Rochester, Eastman School of Music, Darrel taught and performed at Indiana University (also earning a M.A. there) and at the University of Hawaii, while playing in the Honolulu Symphony. Later he earned a Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) at the University of Southern California and played oboe in the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. Darrel culminated his career with 28 years on the BYU music faculty, while playing first oboe in the Utah Symphony 13 of those years. His consistent activity in the LDS church included serving as bishop in three different wards. Darrel and Eva traveled to China, where he taught master classes and performed. He and Eva also performed in Russia, where they served a mission from 1993 to 1995. After retirement, they built a home in Midway, in the Heber Valley that Darrel loved since his boyhood days on the farm and where he enjoyed his last 16 years before passing November 1, 2017, a month short of 92.

He is survived by his wife Eva Stokes Stubbs, his children Brian (and Silvia) Stubbs, Eric (and Lola) Stubbs, Rita (and Brent) Crooks, Alan Stubbs, Carrie (and Griff) Fitzgerald, 30 grandchildren, and 65-plus great grandchildren. The funeral will be 11:00 a.m. on Friday, November 10, 2017, at the LDS chapel, 250 East 200 South in Midway, Utah, followed by interment in the Charleston Cemetery. Viewings will be Thursday 6-8 p.m. and again Friday morning 9-10:30 a.m. at the same chapel. Condolences may be shared online at www.ProbstFamilyFunerals.com