Lincoln Farrell Barlow

Lincoln Farrell Barlow graduated with honors from this world, and passed surrounded by his family on Sunday, January 7, 2024. His last hours were spent as his entire life was: filled with love, his family singing, and crying and laughing as they told stories.

Farrell was born on May 3, 1944 in Moultrie, Georgia to Lincoln and Mildred Barlow, the second child of six, and first son. He was named after Farrell Bell, the missionary who first taught the gospel to Lincoln and Mildred. He cherished that he held the names of both his father and this missionary, and made sure that his children knew the story of his parent’s conversion into The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints.

Growing up in Moultrie, Farrell would get dressed up, and with the boiled peanuts his mother made, hawk his wares in Moultrie while hollering “Peanuts! Get your peanuts!” (which he demonstrated for his kids whenever he had the opportunity to eat boiled peanuts). He often told stories of hanging out with friends, hunting bullfrogs, and accidentally blowing up the chemistry lab at Moultrie High School. Farrell also was very proud of earning his Eagle Scout rank.

Farrell served a mission in the French East Mission from 1962-1965. He liked to remind his sons that he served for three years, compared to two. He worked hard to learn French during the mission and attempted to get rid of his southern accent so the French people could understand him. Little did he know how much he would need that language skill when he served senior missions later in Africa. He loved to sing French songs learned on his mission.

Farrell met his wife, Marilyn Sanders, while attending Brigham Young University, where she was roommates with his sister, Edris. Farrell and Marilyn were married July 5, 1967 in the Logan Temple of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints. Farrell graduated from BYU with a Bachelor of Arts in History with a minor in French.

Farrell was supportive of his family and took his role seriously as father. He often told them that “There is nothing more important than family.” He was the best supporter, attending all of his children’s games, matches, plays, and concerts (and with 7 children, there were many of them). He had the loudest voice, cheering in the audience and in the stands. He formed the Barlow Family Band (originally for ward talent shows) with his guitar, gut bucket, and kazoos. Many people have heard the family band renditions of Long Tall Texan, Sneaky Snake, Singin’ In The Kitchen, You Are The World’s Greatest Father (very tongue-in-cheek!), Put Another Log On The Fire, and the Barlow Family Band theme song (which he wrote). His family learned how to sing 4-part harmony and sang at all family gatherings. At family home evenings with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, they always sang Families Can Be Together Forever. Farrell woke his family every weekday for 6:00 a.m. scripture study (some of us needed what he called “gold-engraved” invitations to get up that early). He taught his children to always show up to church early to help set up, stay late to help take down, and to fulfill all callings. He believed in the importance of the scouting program and encouraged all of his sons to obtain their Eagle rank, which all 5 sons accomplished. He was constantly finding ways to serve, teaching his children to do the same. He is attributed to many sayings, but the very best was when he’d put his arms around us and say “I am so very proud of you.”

Farrell worked hard to provide for his family. He started at Sears, where he made a group of life-long friends who still meet to this day, spent many years with Husky Oil (and he could still sing and play the Husky Oil jingle all of his life), and finished his career as Vice President of Aggregate Sales for Sinclair Oil, finally retiring in 2007.

Farrell believed in serving in his callings with all of his heart, might, mind, and strength. His church callings included serving as Bishop of the Taylorsville 20th Ward, in the chapel where the Taylorsville Utah Temple now stands. Farrell was thrilled when that site was announced for that temple. He also served in the stake presidency, as high councilor, and as an always faithful Home Teacher and ministering brother. With all of these callings, he always wished that he would get called to the nursery because they had toys and snacks. He loved working in his final years as a temple worker in the Jordan River Temple.

Farrell served several missions as a senior missionary with his wife, Marilyn. Four of them were in Africa: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kinshasa as Humanitarian Missionaries; Uganda, Kampala as Humanitarian Missionaries; Water Project Consultants for Kenya, Burundi, and Democratic Republic of the Congo; and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lubumbashi as Member Leadership Support. Other missions included The Family Search Library in Riverton as Family History Consultants; MLS Missionaries in the Westland, West Jordan Utah Stake. Farrell and Marilyn felt deeply the importance of seniors serving missions and were often asked to give firesides on the importance of senior missions, encouraging everyone to find ways to serve throughout the Wasatch Front.

Farrell is survived by his wife, Marilyn, his mother, Mildred, his children, Carrie (Dean) Ormsby, Christie (Keith) Lever, Lincoln Mark (Kimberly) Barlow, Matthew (Shirlene) Barlow, Benjamin (Tiffany) Barlow, Nathan (Eliza) Barlow, and John (Angela) Barlow. He is also survived by his brother Keith and sister Debbie. He is preceded in death by his father, Lincoln Barlow, his son Michael, sister Brenda, brother Ricky, and sister Edris. He has 26 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren with 4 more coming in 2024.

The Barlow Family would like to extend their heart-felt gratitude to Drs. Gregg and Guidry and to staff of the ICU Heart and Lung Unit at the Intermountain Medical Center for their excellent and tender care of our father and grandfather. You made an incredibly difficult situation bearable through your kindness and hard work.

A viewing will be held on Sunday, January 14, 2024 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at the Jenkins-Soffe South Valley Funeral Chapel on 1007 S Jordan Parkway in South Jordan. Another viewing will be held on Monday, January 15, 2024 starting at 10:00-10:30 at the Westland 9th Ward Chapel, 7115 S. 3200 W. in West Jordan, with the funeral starting at 11:00. Interment will be at the Valley View Cemetery, next to his son, Michael.