Richard Hunter Holbrook

Richard Hunter Holbrook passed away December 18, 2023 surrounded by his wife and children. Born December 2, 1953 to Richard Lincoln Holbrook and Mary Jean Hunter in Salt Lake City, Utah. His early years were spent in Utah. His family moved to Alameda, California when Rich was in fourth grade, and eventually settled in San Jose, California. Rich was always very creative, winning many awards for his artwork. He also excelled in athletics, earning numerous accolades in swimming, track and field, and football. During the summer before starting high school, along with his dad and best friend, Rich walked the whole length of the John Muir Trail in the High Sierras – 260 miles in three weeks. Rich graduated with the class of 1972 from Leland High School in San Jose, California.

After high school, Rich served an honorable mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Mexico North Mission. Upon his return, he married Marla Jolene May in the Salt Lake LDS Temple on November 6, 1975. They were blessed with three children: Matthew (Natalie), Curtis (Charlene), and Alayna. They raised their children in Sandy, Utah, and then moved to Gilbert, Arizona in 2002.

Rich spent his life working in the construction industry, retiring from Layton Construction Company in 2020. The highlight of his career was being the Project Superintendent over the rebuilding of the Nauvoo LDS Temple. Rich was very service-oriented. Helping others brought him so much joy. After retirement, Rich and Marla worked with the Tampico, Mexico mission to provide service for the Huejutla District members. He loved arranging temple trips for the Mexican people. Outside of church service, Rich most enjoyed spending time working on his cabin, taking his friends and family to lunch, building and creating things, watching football, and spending as much quality time as possible with his grandchildren.

Rich was preceded in death by his parents, father-in-law Marlo May, brother-in-law Bryan May, and sister-in-law Susan May. He is survived by his wife, children, one granddaughter and nine grandsons, sisters Ann (Mark) and Susan, and brothers Steven (Chris) and Mark (Stacy).

A visitation will be held at Gilbert Memorial Park Funeral Home, located at 2100 E Queen Creek Road, in Gilbert, Arizona, on Thursday, December 28, 2023, from 5:00 – 7:00 pm. Funeral services will be held at the Ray Ward LDS Chapel, located at 1155 E Ray Road, in Gilbert, Arizona, on Friday, December 29, 2023, at 11:00 am. Following the services, the interment will take place at the Gilbert Memorial Park Cemetery.

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