Richard Othell Drollinger

Richard O. Drollinger – “Mr. D”

Richard O. Drollinger, 82, passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 25, 2017.

He was born on a farm in Payson, Utah, on January 22, 1935, to Milton Drollinger and Grace Lucille Brimhall. He served an LDS mission in the Iowa and Nebraska areas where he realized that he wanted to be a teacher. He attended Brigham Young University in the fall of 1957 and graduated in 1962 with a major in botany and a minor in zoology. He married Colleen Ludlow on June 23, 1966, in the Salt Lake Temple.

Shortly after graduating from BYU, he began his teaching career at Springville High School. He taught at SHS until he retired in 1996 in order to care for Colleen, who had suffered a stroke. He continued serving as a substitute teacher until shortly before his death.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Colleen, and his daughter, Jenni. He is survived by his children, Dyana (Chip) Whitmer, Derek, and Jason; and grandsons, Kaika Drollinger, Dallin (Leilani), Jared, Joshua, Nathan, Matthew, and AJ Whitmer, his brand new great-granddaughter, Cordelia Mei Whitmer; his sister, Virginia Ewell; and his brother-in-law, Grant Cook.

Affectionately known as “Mr. D,” he was cherished for showing kindness to all. He was an advocate for every one of his students, and was an example of unconditional love to all he met.  He loved teaching, fishing, cooking, gardening, sewing, reading, singing and ballroom dancing.

He served as the bishop of his LDS ward in Springville and in many other church callings during his lifetime.

A viewing will be held on Tuesday, May 30, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the Springville High School main courtyard (1205 East 900 South, Springville) and on Wednesday, May 31, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Spring Creek LDS South Stake Center (350 North 400 East, Springville).  Funeral services will be Wednesday, May 31, at 12:00 noon, at the Spring Creek LDS South Stake Center. Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery in Springville.

In lieu of flowers, we ask that you buy your favorite flower in his memory, and plant it in your own garden.