Val Gene (Washburn) Ogles

Our beloved Val Gene Ogles passed from this life on March 11, 2022. During her final weeks, many of her children and family were able to be by her side in Provo, Utah and express their love for her and her exemplary life.

Val Gene was born on June 5, 1931 in Blanding, Utah to Alvin LaVell Washburn and Wasel Amelia Black. The early years of her life were spent in Blanding, Utah as she attended school, played the saxophone in the local dance band, and associated with many of her extended family living there.

Following the death of her father, the family moved to Provo, Utah. Val Gene graduated from Provo High School in 1947 and then attended BYU. She served a mission in the New England States Mission, serving from 1953 - 1954. Following her mission she returned to Provo and graduated from BYU in 1955. She taught school for a short time in Richfield, UT and Las Vegas, Nevada. During this time she was part of the Palmyra Pageant, playing the role of Queen Mosiah. In 1957, she moved with friends to teach school in Whittier, CA, where her brother AlDean lived.

In 1958 she met her husband, Charles Bluford Ogles. They were married in the Salt Lake City Temple in 1959. Though they met later in life, they desired to have a large family and were blessed with eight children in ten years, followed by a sweet caboose baby five years later. After living in Whittier for several years, they moved to Brigham City, Utah.

Val Gene was a pillar of strength in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served in various capacities in the Church for over 70 years including as a missionary, a teacher in nursery, primary, Sunday School, Relief Society, and as a Ward and Stake Relief Society President. Val Gene eventually returned to teaching. She enthusiastically taught elementary students for over 20 years, until the age of 70.

Shortly after moving to Springville, Utah, in 2006, her husband, Charles, passed away. Since his death, Val Gene has been lovingly cared for by her youngest daughter, Georgia. Val Gene loved genealogy and after retirement, she became addicted to indexing. She spent many hours on family history and was an indexing arbitrator. She also had a great love of learning, and education was important to her throughout her life. Even when she was confined to her bed for most of the day, she spent her time watching–and taking notes on–educational and religious lectures on YouTube.

Stalwart and true to the teachings of the Savior, Val Gene served her family and fellowmen all the days of her life. A faithful wife and dedicated mother, she loved, supported, and sustained her family in truth and righteousness. Val Gene had a wide sphere of influence for good, texting and emailing her extended family regularly, sharing her love, wisdom and tidbits of advice.

Val Gene leaves behind a loving family: her children Benjamin McKay (Maureen) Ogles of Provo, Utah; Elizabeth (Craig) Sheranian of Simi Valley, California; Wasel Amelia (Karl) Lambert of Smithfield, Utah; Charles Callis (Jennifer) Ogles of Gardnerville, Nevada; David Washburn (Nina) Ogles of Springville, Utah; Martha Mogene (Craig) Bodily of Provo, Utah; Anne Rumfield (Christopher) of Springville, Utah; Georgia Ogles of Provo, Utah and Alvin Kimball (Kiersten) Ogles of Farmington, Utah; beloved siblings JB Washburn, Velyn Nicholes and Virginia Oldroyd: a special foster daughter, Ina Christensen and her family; 34 grandchildren, and 25 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents Alvin Lavell Washburn and Wasel Amelia Black, her siblings, Verde Hughes, Vela Hawkins, Lark Washburn, Berk Washburn, AlDean Washburn, and Veloy Hansen, her husband Charles Bluford Ogles, and her son-in-law Christopher Rumfield.

Funeral services will be held Friday, April 1 at 11:00 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Grandview 13th Ward Chapel, 1270 W. 1150 N., Provo, Utah. Family visiting will be held prior to services, beginning at 10:00 a.m. at the same location. The interment will be at the Evergreen Cemetery in Springville, Utah. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be donated to the Humanitarian Fund of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Condolences may be sent to wheelermortuary@msn.com.