Bryan Townsend Lufkin

Bryan Townsend Lufkin, age 89, passed away peacefully in his sleep on November 19, 2023.

Born on November 19, 1934, to Ryland Townsend Lufkin and Belva Kinghorn Lufkin, Bryan was the cherished older brother of three doting sisters, Madelon, Loaine, and Alice Ann.

Bryan's educational path took him through Annis Elementary School, Rigby High School, Ricks College, and Utah State University, where he earned his degree. Remarkably, Bryan survived a serious bout with polio as a child, a testament to his resilience and strength.

A brilliant chess player, Bryan had a strategic mind, and was ranked for a time. As a young adult his activities included teaching mathematics at Ricks College and serving his country in the Idaho National Guard Reserves.

Throughout his career, Bryan served as an engineer, contributing to projects at Thiokol, NASA, and Boeing. He was involved in the development of the B-2 bomber and the lunar rover, among other projects. Because he was associated with the Saturn V, the rocket instrumental in landing humans on the moon, his name was among those inscribed on a scroll that was left on the lunar surface.

Bryan met Karol Ida King when they both worked at Thiokol. They were married and sealed on July 1, 1960, in the Logan Temple, starting on a journey that spanned multiple cities and states. They lived in Logan, Utah; Brigham City, Utah; Huntsville, Alabama; Bellevue, Washington; and Dayton, Ohio; before ultimately establishing their permanent residence in Covington, Washington.

A devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Bryan served in many and various capacities, starting with a two-year mission in the Eastern States Mission. Later, he and his wife dedicated their time to missionary work in the Family History Center in Auburn, Washington. Bryan was passionate about family history and genealogy, and he enthusiastically engaged in conversations about ancestry. He also dedicated time to serving in the temple.

Bryan's love for books and reading was a constant throughout his life, and he was often found with a book in hand or under his seat. Additionally, he had a fondness for baked goods, satisfying his sweet tooth by frequently visiting local bakeries and enjoying his wife’s culinary skill.

Bryan is survived by his children, Susan Weaver, Nancy (Scott) Payne, Lana (David) Spice, James (Laurie) Lufkin, Michael (Jen) Lufkin, Thomas (Violet) Lufkin, and John (Rachel) Lufkin. He is also survived by his sisters, Loaine Geisler and Alice Ann Harrop, along with 26 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his beloved wife, parents, sister Madelon Parkinson, and grandson Stefan Weaver.

Funeral services will take place on November 28, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. at the Eckersell Memorial Chapel in Rigby. Friends are invited to join the family for two hours prior to the service. Burial will be at the Annis-Little Butte Cemetery.