Eduardo Alba

Ed was born, the fifth of twelve children, on October 21, 1948, to Samuel Alba Cruz and Hermila Lidia Salinas, in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico. At the young age of eight, he and his family immigrated from Mexico to the United States. As farm workers, the family moved to California and Idaho before settling in Salt Lake City, Utah.

A proud, graduate of South High School in 1968. Ed’s father encouraged higher learning and would tell him, “If you don’t want to work out in the fields, you need to get an education.”

As a result, Ed attended the following Universities: Utah State, Utah and Brigham Young, earning his bachelor’s and master’s degree in Education.

Ed went on to serve in the Mexico Southeast Mission. Shortly after returning he met and married Mary Louise Riojas on June 30th, 1972, in the Salt Lake Temple. Together they had six children. Ed never missed a chance to watch and support his kids or grandchildren in any and all sports or activities.

An educator for 30 years, Ed began his teaching career at Midvale Middle School where he taught Math and eventually became an assistant principal. He was a vice principal at Bingham High School, a principal at Indian Hills and Mount Jordan Middle Schools before retiring in 2006.

Ed’s passion for the outdoors and helping people showed in everything that he did. He loved being a Scout Master, teaching young men how to fish, build fires and survive in the wilderness. He loved every opportunity to show off his Dutch oven cooking skills, cooking for ward campouts and any other activity that involved food. After retirement, you could find Ed on a cold winter’s day, using his snowplow to clear anyone and everyone’s driveway. During the summer months he was mowing lawns for his neighbors on his riding lawn mower.

An avid BYU fan, he cheered for all of BYU’s sports teams and for every team that played against the U of U; he taught his children to do the same. Ed was a family man and took his children and grandchildren camping, fishing and star gazing. He was a fan of Kenny Rogers, blasting that darn cassette with auto reverse any time he could. His children have grown to love Kenny and play his music to this day.

Aside from his family, Ed’s greatest joy came from being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He loved studying the scriptures and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. Ed and Mary served two Inner City missions together and Ed recently served as a Self-Reliance Service Missionary. He loved helping people across the country find meaningful employment so they could provide for their families.

Ed is survived by his wife Mary, his children: Jessica, Jacob, Jared and Dusty, Jelena, Joel, Jay and Chantelle; and five grandchildren: Alexis, Jakson, Zaden, Hunter and Ethan; many brothers and sisters and numerous nieces and nephews who he loved very much. Ed was preceded in death by his parents, and three siblings: Samuel Rodolfo, Lydia Hermila and Raymundo Erbey.

Dad, we love and miss you already.

There will be a viewing on Wednesday August 11, 2021, from 6pm-8pm

Valley View Funeral Home

4335 W. 4100 S

West Valley City, Utah 84120

Funeral Services Thursday, August 12, 2021, at 11am.

Viewing from 10am-10:45am

Hunter 19th Ward

2811 South 6400 West, West Valley City 84128

Interment services Memorial Estates

3115 Bengal Blvd

Cottonwood Heights, Utah 84121

Covid Restrictions apply, masks will be required.