Obituary “Bob” 2/16/1943 ~ 5/15/2019 Robert “Bob” Wright Neff passed away unexpectedly on May 15, 2019, in Murray, Utah. Bob was born on February 16, 1943, to Thomas Brinton and Alice May Wright Neff in Salt Lake City, Utah. After graduating from Olympus High School, Bob served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Southwest British mission.
He married Alice Parry on July 26, 1965, in the Logan, Utah Temple. He remained a devoted husband, father and active church member throughout his life. We are grateful for his example of honorably enduring to the end.
Bob’s insatiable need for speed started at an early age when he would work on cars at his father’s business (Neff’s Inc., 4600 South State) during the week and race go-carts on the weekends—much to the irritation of the neighbors. One of Bob’s favorite projects was building a 1923 Ford Roadster. Known as the neighborhood mechanic, he was generous with his time and continuously willing to help with any project.
Bob helped fix cars with family, friends and neighbors. As his children started driving, he would wait for them to be home before fixing their cars so he could teach them how to repair and maintain automobiles. All his children know how to maintain their cars.
Bob’s older grandchildren have also been blessed by his tutelage. Bob graduated as a welder and started his career welding cement trucks. Even though this profession provided for his family, Bob wanted a career that pushed his mental creative capacity.
To fill that desire, he studied electronics through a correspondence course and took a job with Honeywell in 1968 to work on temperature controls. In 1979, Bob left Honeywell to start his own company, System Controls, Inc He enjoyed learning about and programming computers as he put together environmental control systems for commercial buildings.
We remember having the first computer on the block in 1977. He was an original “early adopter”. Bob valued hard work.
He passed this value onto his children as he instructed them in caring for his father’s orchard and garden. Because of Bob’s dedication and love, the Neff orchard remains in the family. Bob loved taking fresh apples and other fruits of his labor to friends and business associates.
Bob instilled the value of service in his children by his examples of snow blowing the neighborhood driveways, using his talents to help anyone in need, and having a friendly wave for everyone who drove by. We will miss the weekly emails, the new gadgets acquired at the latest consumer electronics convention, the man who could fix anything, the favorite uncle, and as some of his grandchildren would say, “his wrinkly, twinkly smile”. The younger grandchildren will miss sitting on his lap, often 3 or 4 of them at once, watching cartoons.
Preceded in death by his parents and brother, William “Bill” Neff. Survived by his wife, Alice Parry Neff; 6 children: Steve (Corey) Neff, John (Rhonda) Neff, Brad (Jersha) Neff, Dave (Jamie) Neff, Sandy Pick, Debbie (Brian) Hunter; 22 grandchildren; 1 great-granddaughter; 3 brothers: Tom (Janette) Neff, Jerry (Barbara) Neff, Ted (Linda) Neff. Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, May 23, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. at the Union Fort Stake Center located at 7155 South 540 East, Midvale, Utah.
Viewings will be held on Wednesday, May 22nd, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary, 4760 South State Street, Murray, Utah, and on Thursday, May 23rd, from 10:00 – 10:45 a.m. at the church prior to the service. Interment: Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, please consider honoring Bob’s memory by rendering a service to a neighbor or contributing to a humanitarian organization.
To send flowers to the family of Robert Wright Neff, please visit Tribute Store. Events May22 Viewing Wednesday, May 22, 2019 6:00PM – 8:00PM Jenkins-Soffe Funeral Home – Murray 4760 S State Street Murray, UT 84107 Get directions View MapTextEmail In lieu of flowers, please consider honoring Bob’s memory by rendering a service to a neighbor or contributing to a humanitarian organization. Order flowers for Robert’s Viewing.
Guaranteed delivery before Robert’s Viewing begins. May23 Viewing Thursday, May 23, 2019 10:00AM – 10:45AM Union Fort Stake Center 7155 South 540 East Midvale, UT 84107 Get directions View MapTextEmail Order flowers for Robert’s Viewing. Guaranteed delivery before Robert’s Viewing begins.
May23 Service Thursday, May 23, 2019 11:00AM – 11:00AM Union Fort Stake Center 7155 South 540 East Midvale, UT 84107 Get directions View MapTextEmail In lieu of flowers, please consider honoring Bob’s memory by rendering a service to a neighbor or contributing to a humanitarian organization. Order flowers for Robert’s Service. Guaranteed delivery before Robert’s Service begins.
If you found any mistakes, or you would like to add/remove to this obituary, please contact us by email: info@obituary.memorial. We never ask money for this.
