July 22, 1934 – Jan. 29, 2022
Gaylin Wallace Poulson, 87, passed away on the evening of Jan. 29, 2022, at the home of his daughter, Kim, in Weddington, North Carolina. (The hospice nurse arrived after midnight, establishing Jan. 30, 2022, as his official death date.) Gaylin was born in Salina, Utah, on July 22, 1934, to Wallace Gustave and Arnelda Murphy Poulson of Redmond, Utah. He married Colleen Howell on September 9, 1960, in the Salt Lake City Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Colleen preceded him in death on April 25, 2018.
Gaylin is survived by his five children: Shelly (Paul) Jordan of Oak Park, California; Deborah (Curt) McArthur of Washington, Utah; Melonie Hines of Westminster, Colorado; Kyle (Alison Beesley) Poulson of Kaysville, Utah; and Kimberly (Jeff) Herbst of Weddington, North Carolina; 22 grandchildren: nine great-grandchildren; and four siblings: Kathleen (Dennis) Jensen, John (Sharon) Poulson, LaRue (John) Stuart, and Kurt (Susan) Poulson. Gaylin was preceded in death by his sister Shanna (Larry) McFarland.
From his father, Gaylin inherited a love of hunting and fishing in the mountains surrounding Redmond. For brief periods, the family lived away from Redmond, including some formative years in San Francisco, California, where Gaylin’s father worked during WWII. As a young adult, Gaylin proudly served in the Air Force during the Korean War from 1953-1957.
The GI bill opened opportunities for a college education that Gaylin had not previously considered. After a semester at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, he realized he needed to hone his English and math skills to succeed in college, so he took classes at a high school in Salt Lake City, Utah. He supported himself by working at a gas station. While pumping gas and washing windshields, he drew the attention of a beautiful young driver, Colleen Howell, who became the love of his life.
While courting and newly married, Gaylin earned his Business Administration degree from Utah State University. Gaylin and Colleen spent the next 57 years building a beautiful life together as they raised five children. Gaylin’s managerial work in the mining and oil industry took the family to Utah, New Mexico, California and Colorado.
In 1985, Gaylin and Colleen became business partners when they purchased a quick printing business. A few years after selling Able Printing & Graphics in 2010, Gaylin and Colleen served a mission together for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Denver, Colorado. They retired to St. George, Utah in 2016.
Gaylin’s quick wit and caring nature endeared him to his family and friends. He loved road trips, and he traveled many miles to show up for the people he loved. In his home and wherever he visited, there was always good food, great fun and plenty of laughter.
Funeral Services will be held Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022, at 11 a.m. at the Washington Fields Stake Sandia Chapel, 628 S. 3000 E., St. George, Utah. Visitations will be held Friday evening from 6-8 p.m. at Metcalf Mortuary, 288 West St. George Blvd. and Saturday, prior to the service, from 10-10:45 a.m. at the church. Gaylin will be laid to rest next to his wife, Colleen, at Tonaquint Cemetery, 1777 S. Dixie Drive, St. George, Utah, at 2 p.m.
For those unable to attend, live-streaming of the services will be available with the following two options.
Online: https://zoom.us/j/95258985256 – Funeral Services: Feb. 12, 2022 at 11 a.m. (MTD). If link does not work, go to: zoom.us/join, enter meeting ID# 952 5898 5256.
Audio only: Call 669-900-6833. Enter meeting ID# 952 5898 5256
Arrangements entrusted to the care of Metcalf Mortuary, 435-673-4221. Visit Metcalf Mortuary’s website at www.metcalfmortuary.com for condolences, complete obituary and funeral listings.