"Together Again"

Our beloved father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend, Ralph McClellan Barrus passed away June 22, 2003, surrounded by his family. He was a great musician, a great friend, and a great man. Ralph was born February 14, 1918 to Owen Henry Barrus and Mary Ann Hunter Barrus. The youngest of 16 children he was born and raised in Grantsville, Utah. As a teen he developed an intense passion for music, and played in several local dance bands. He married Donna J. Dickerson in 1937, in the Salt Lake Temple and together they had Janet Barrus (Williams) and later divorced. After serving in the Army during World War II he met and fell in love with Phyllis Adele Brown Smith. Their love was solemnized in the Salt Lake City Temple August 30, 1946. She passed away Sept. 24, 1997. Ralph graduated from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, becoming a piano tuner and technician, a career which served him and the community well for over forty years. He was outstanding in his profession and served as President of the Utah Chapter of the Piano Technician's Guild. He and his family have owned Barrus Pianos in the Salt Lake Valley since 1951. He and Phyllis were thrilled to bring their daughter, Vicki, and son, John, into the world. Ralph has always remained active in the LDS Church where he served in various capacities. While serving in the Army he played the bass horn for the Utah National Guard Band. He played in several jazz and dance bands. He was the first bass violin player of the Utah Symphony Orchestra. He has continued to play in several professional and amateur bands until very recently, and has recorded numerous albums. Most recently, he has performed and recorded with Phoenix Jazz and Swing Band. He also sang in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir for several years.

Published in Salt Lake Tribune June 25, 2003