March 28, 1933 — March 4, 2022
Paul Arthur Furr, CDR-Ret (USN), Ph.D., husband of Merlene Wright Furr for 67 years, died on Friday, March 4, 2022. Born in Logan, Utah on March 28, 1933, he was the son of the late Carl Jethro Furr and Norma Henrie Furr Reich.
Paul retired as a commander with the United States Navy, proudly serving 23 years in the Medical Service Corps as an aerospace physiologist. Paul attended the University of Utah on a track scholarship, receiving a bachelor of science in 1955. He received a master’s degree from Georgetown University in 1968, and a doctorate in physiology from the University of Oklahoma in 1976.
Paul began his career in the Navy, earning his Parachutist Wing Insignia as a naval test parachutist and senior naval parachutist and retired as executive officer, Naval Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory. Paul then worked for Grumman Aerospace on the NASA contract for the International Space Station.
Paul permanently retired in 1995 to St. George, Utah, where he enjoyed photography and volunteered at the Bureau of Land Management. Paul’s greatest passion was ‘jeeping’ and what he began as just a couple of friends exploring Southern Utah and the Arizona Strip in their jeeps has now turned into the St. George Jeepers with over 600 jeeping enthusiasts.
Paul’s children and grandchildren live far and wide throughout the U.S. He especially loved sharing his passion for everything outdoors with his kids and grandkids and always looked forward to their visits.
Paul is survived by his wife Merlene Furr, St George. Daughters: Jane Ginestra, Austin TX; Karen (Lou) Attanasi, Charleston SC; Julie (Rick) Floyd, Lexington KY/newly Hurricane, Utah. Grandchildren: Chantal Ginestra, Leda (Ryan) Ginestra Foster, Devon Ginestra; Michael (Alyssa) Attanasi, Brendan Attanasi; Chris Floyd, Kelsey Floyd, Craig Floyd. Siblings: Karl (Diane) Furr, Bruce (Ruth) Furr, Tamaree Littlefield. Paul was preceded in death by his son-in-law Verter Ginestra.
Viewing will be Friday, March 11, 2022, at 9 a.m. followed by funeral services at 10:15 a.m. at Spilsbury Mortuary, St George.
Family and friends that are unable to attend are invited to view the funeral service online by clicking on the link below.
http://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/viewer/70549
Interment with full military honors will follow in Tonaquint Cemetery, St George Utah.
For those who will accompany Paul to his final resting place, the family encourages a jeep and American flag procession.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Utah Public Lands Alliance: P.O. Box 833, St. George Utah, 84770; PayPal https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/UTAHpla; Venmo (business) @UTAHpla.
The family wishes to acknowledge The Meadows Assisted Living and Integrated Senior Care for their loving care in Paul’s final days.
Arrangements are made under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S. Bluff St., St. George, Utah, (435) 673-2454.
Friends and family are invited to sign Paul’s online guest book at www.spilsburymortuary.com.