Junior Wayne Underwood November 1, 1926 - July 17, 2023

Junior Wayne Underwood passed away July 17, 2023 at the age of 96 in American Fork, Utah.  He was born in Eureka, Utah, on November 1, 1926.  When he was three years old his family moved to Salem, Utah where he continued to live.  Junior was the oldest of three children: Betty (Howard Provstgaard) and Don (Loraine) Underwood, both of whom preceded him in death.

Junior married Bonnie Williams in 1945 and together they had three children: Kay Marie; Eddie, and Peggy Underwood.  He married Joyce Christensen July 27, 1957, who had three children: Steven (Sharon-deceased) Christensen (deceased), Randy (Lisa-deceased) Christensen, and Michael (Ruth) Christensen.  Together Junior and Joyce had a daughter, Malinda (deceased).  Junior and Joyce were later sealed in the Provo Temple.   Joyce passed away September 3, 1996.

Junior had to quit school during his senior year and worked construction to assist his family.  Five days after his 18th birthday in 1944, he was drafted into the Army 65th Engineer Combat Battalion during WWII.  He served in the Asian Pacific Combat forces and was part of the First Army Battalion to enter Japan after the Atomic Bomb.  In 2013, the American Legion presented him with an Asiatic Pacific Medallion inscribed with: “WWII Valor in the Pacific –– Our Grateful Islands Remember 1941-1945.”  He was given a certificate on behalf of the 60th Commemoration Committee and VGW Post 3457, Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, WWII.  It read: “It is a great honor to present you our WWII Medallion.”

After returning from the war, he attended school and tool welding and auto mechanics.  He was hired on at the Trojan Powder Plant in October 1947 until 1989.  While there, he invented a soft pack system for packaging dynamite, which went industry wide.  While the plant was shut down after a fire, he went to work for Salem City helping to build and run the Sewer Treatment Plant.  After two years, he then returned to the Powder Plant.

Junior also served as a member of Salem City’s first Volunteer Fire Department.  In 2009 he was presented the Palmyra District “Good Turn Award” –– “in appreciation for his outstanding service to youth.”  He always served his neighbors and was a great example to the youth.  He did welding projects for neighbors and made several clothes line poles.  For years he helped remove snow for neighbors, first with a home-made snow pusher, then two snow blowers, and then an ATV with a snow blade.

Junior was an avid outdoorsman.  He loved to hunt and fish until he was too old to get around.  His son Steven was often his companion until Steven’s untimely death.

Junior built his first home in Salem and totally remodeled his present home.  He appreciated the quiet life of Salem.  He loved swimming in Salem Pond and rafting as a kid and was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter–day Saints in the Salem Pond.  He appreciated all his neighbors and enjoyed their friendship.

At the time of his passing, Junior was survived by his children: Kay Marie (Dave) Larson, Provo; Eddie (Peggy Llewelyn) Underwood, Fairview; and Peggy Underwood, Provo; stepchildren: Randy Christensen, Nephi; Michael (Ruth) Christensen, Provo; many grandchildren and great children.

A visitation, where family and friends may gather, will be Thursday evening, July 20, 2023 from 6:00 p.m.– 8:00 p.m. at Walker Funeral Home, 187 South Main Street, Spanish Fork, Utah. There will also be a visitation Friday morning, July 21, 2023, from 9:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meetinghouse, 60 South Main Street, Salem, Utah. Funeral Service will be at 11:00 a.m. Friday morning, July 21, 2023, at the church.  Interment, with Military Honors, will be at Salem City Cemetery, 979 South 130 East, Salem, Utah.