Robert Lee Hampton

Robert Lee Hampton, age 65, passed away suddenly in the earliest hour of June 3, 2024 at home in South Salt Lake, Utah. To our best knowledge, a pulmonary embolism resulted in heart failure. He was born September 22, 1958 in Dalton, Georgia to Janet Gee Walraven and Thammer Taylor Hampton, and he graduated from Southeast Whitfield High School.

In 1982, Robert sought out a new life in Utah. He attended a year at UVSC (Utah Valley State College) and also started work at Grand Central, leading to a 42-year career while the company evolved into Fred Meyer and then Smith’s Marketplace. He also joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Robert enjoyed video games and movies, books, comic books, science fiction, superheroes, anime, and old TV shows – stories where good triumphs over evil and there is a happy ending. He became skilled in auto, appliance, and home repair, built bookcases and fences, painted, took down walls, replumbed his house, and set up an extensive irrigation system from his artesian well to the garden, developing these and other skills, such as welding, as the need arose. For many years, he enjoyed the serenity of working in his garden and he planted an orchard there. He loved animals, especially dogs, whom he said are the best people. He also got involved in researching his family history.

He was sealed to Aileen Elizabeth Olsen on September 1, 2006 in a double wedding with her sister Debbie (Ryan Penney) in the Toronto Ontario Temple. Robert is survived by his wife and four sons, Rob, William, Alexander, and Joey, cat Spooky, sisters Candy Coin Overton and Pam Whitmore Carson of Dalton, Georgia, and nieces and nephews Kenny Johnson, Joanne Johnson Langer, Michael Morgan, and Ashlee Whitmore. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Donald Johnson, sister Sandra Susan Hampton Dewitt (Tim), and beloved dogs Cray, Ola, Lady, Lucky, and cat Missy.

Robert was a valued member of the Central Park Ward. His funeral service was held there at 304 E 2700 S on June 8th at 11 am. His family is grateful for the outpouring of love and support from family, friends, neighbors, church members, Robert’s coworkers, and the children’s Open Classroom community. He was interred at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park.