Henry (Hank) Dinwoodey Moyle Jr Obituary (1929

Hank, age 96, passed away peacefully at his beloved ranch in Southern Utah on April 14, 2026. He made his entrance on a snowy Christmas Eve in 1929 in Salt Lake City, Utah, the son of Henry Dinwoodey Moyle and Clara Alberta Wright Moyle, and was raised in the Cottonwood area of the Salt Lake Valley. Hank’s father—a prominent LDS Church leader, attorney, Professor of Law, and businessman—instilled a strong work ethic by making him work on the family farm and then sending him to the sheep camps of the Deseret Livestock Company during his teenage years. After attending BYU, Hank served a two-year mission in France and Switzerland. He remained in France to study at the Sorbonne in Paris, perfecting his language skills and deepening his knowledge of French history and culture. He often recounted this as a treasured experience—save for the fleas in his boarding facility. Upon returning to the States, he was drafted into the Army during the Korean War, serving in Germany and France. In 1953, he "imported" Joyce Crowton to Mannheim, Germany, where they were married. They began their family in France. Following his honorable discharge, Hank and Joyce returned to the States. He continued his education at Stanford University before earning his law degree at the University of Utah. His life was defined by service. Following his early missionary work, he returned to Europe in 1961 to establish the French East Mission as one of the youngest Mission Presidents called. What was to be a three-year stint was slightly shortened to return home to help his mother following his father's death. Hank built a distinguished career in law and business, serving as a Deputy Salt Lake County Attorney before establishing a successful private practice. His leadership extended into the corporate world, where he and his partner, Lou Haynie, created Research Industries Corporation: a company that developed commercial land and funded research for a pharmaceutical agent known as DMSO. He later served on the Board of several water companies and Amerityre Corporation. He and Joyce were divorced in 1979, and he married Vickie Hunt on Sept 12, 1980. Post retirement, he purchased the Sunset Canyon Ranch bordering Zion National Park in southern Utah, where he and Vickie and several family members remained for 37 years. Though his ability to travel was restricted due to health issues after the Covid epidemic, he didn’t mind remaining home. He once commented, “Isn’t it lovely to live in a place from which you don't need a vacation!" With a profound love for horses, the outdoors, and running (including marathons,) Hank lived life to the fullest, finding joy in constant exploration. He and Vickie, both private pilots, spent years exploring the US, Canada, and Mexico by air. His zest for life, new places, and meeting new people was truly immeasurable. Hank was a master at bringing people together, creating cherished opportunities for friends and family to gather and build lasting bonds. His ability to strike up a conversation with complete strangers was legendary—and usually hilarious. No matter where he found himself, he was quick to extend a hand of genuine warmth and inclusion. He is survived by his six children, Michelle (Brent) Christensen, John Rowe (DeAnn) Moyle, Anne-Marie (David) Wheeler, Linda (Kevin) Smith, Henry III (Natalie) Moyle, Samuel (Lili) Moyle, seventeen beloved grandchildren, and forty-four great-grandchildren, whose lives reflect his enduring legacy. He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry Dinwoodey Moyle and Clara Alberta Wright Moyle, and his siblings: Alice Yeates, Marie Wangeman, Virginia Marsh, Janet Nielson, and Richard W. Moyle. *** An informal Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, April 20th, at Sunset Canyon Ranch in Virgin, Utah between the hours of 5-8 pm. He will be interred during a private graveside service on Saturday, April 25th, at the Salt Lake City Cemetery, followed by a second Celebration at the LDS Stake Center located at 11570 Wasatch Blvd, in Sandy, Utah, between the hours of 4:30-6:30 pm.