Dates

• Existence: 1925 - 2012

Biographical History

Robert Lynn Layton (1925-2012) was a geography professor in Utah.

Robert Lynn Layton was born on May 31, 1925 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Lynn Cornell Layton and Leone Gardiner Gedge. He attended South High School in Salt Lake City, Utah, and was afterward drafted into the United States Army. During World War II he served as a bomber radio operator. At the end of the war he returned to Salt Lake City to study at the University of Utah before leaving on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Argentina.

Following his mission, Layton resumed his education. He completed a bachelor's degree at the University of Utah in 1951, and a master's degree in 1952. He later completed his PhD at Syracuse University in 1962. Amid his schooling, Layton married Betty Merelyn James on September 5, 1951 in Salt Lake City, Utah, and they eventually had seven children.

Layton joined the Department of Geography faculty at Brigham Young University in 1954. He served as department chair between 1961 and 1980. He also taught during the summers at Portland State University (1964) and University of Manitoba (1968), and worked for National Economic Planning Council in Guatemala between 1965 and 1966.

During his life, Layton remained active in the Church and served as a bishop. He and his wife later served as missionaries in California and Utah.

Robert Lynn Layton passed away on October 7, 2012 in Provo, Utah.

Citation:

Regionalización preliminar del territorio de la República de Guatemala, 1966: t.p. (no usage; handwritten note at bottom of page, "researched and edited by Robert Layton, Dept. of Geography, BYU)

UPB files, Apr. 4, 2001 (Robert Lynn Layton; b. 1925; member of faculty in Dept. of Geography, Brigham Young University)

Familysearch, via WWW, Nov. 23, 2021 (Robert Lynn Layton; b. May 31, 1925 in Salt Lake City, Utah; parents: Lynn Cornell Layton and Leone Gardiner Gedge; attended South High School in Salt Lake City, Utah; studied at the University of Utah; bomber radio operator during World War II; served as missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Argentina; m. September 5, 1951 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Betty Merelyn James, seven children; graduated from University of Utah with bachelor's degree, 1951, and master's, 1952; PhD from Syracuse University; joined Geography faculty at Brigham Young University, 1954; served as department chair, 1961-1980; taught at Portland State University (1964) and University of Manitoba (1968); worked for National Economic Planning Council in Guatemala, 1965-1966; later served as missionary with wife in California and Utah; served as bishop in Church; d. October 7, 2012 in Provo, Utah)

Brigham Young University general catalog, 1985: page 116 (Robert L. Layton; joined Geography faculty, 1954; Ph.D., Syracuse University, 1962)

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