Dates

• Existence: 1914 - 2002

Biographical History

Alma Heaton (1914-2002) was a recreation professor at Brigham Young University, author of 56 books, creator of 27 dance instruction records, and participant in 10 films on dance and recreation. He was vice-president of the Utah Park's and Recreation Association and chairman of the American Association of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation Dance Section.

Alma Heaton was born on June 18, 1914 in Kanab, Utah to parents Israel Hoyt Heaton and Charlotte Cox. He went on to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Canada from 1935-1936. He then served in the United States Army in World War II from 1942-1946. He married Marie Bishop on April 13, 1943 in the Salt Lake Temple, and they had 5 children together. For two years, he and Marie managed the Arthur Murray Dance Studio in Ogden, Utah while he attended Weber College for two years and Utah State University where he earned a master's degree in recreation and a teacher's certificate. He taught elementary school in Ogden for two years before joining the faculty at Brigham Young University in 1953 to develop the recreation and social dance programs. He retired from Brigham Young University in 1979. He and his wife then served as missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Goa, India, and were called on several short missions to Europe teaching dance and activities to the leaders and members of the church. He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving on the the Mutual Improvement Association Board for 15 years, as well as in various ward, stake, and church positions. Alma Heaton passed away on 30 November, 2002 in Provo, Utah.

Citation:

familysearch, via WWW, Feb. 22, 2019 (1914-2002, born June 18, 1914 in Kanab, Utah, parents Israel Hoyt Heaton and Charlotte Cox, served in the United States Army in World War II from 1942-1946, passed away on 30 Novemeber, 2002 in Provo, Utah). deseret news obituaries, via WWW, Feb. 22, 2019 (was a recreation professor at Brigham Young University, author of 56 books, creator of 27 dance instruction records, participant in 10 films on dance and recreation; was vice-president of the Utah Park's and Recreation Association; was chairman of the American Association of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation Dance Section; served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Canada from 1935-1936; served in the United States Army in World War II from 1942-1946; married Marie Bishop on April 13, 1943 in the Salt Lake Temple; for two years, he and Bishop managed the Arthur Murray Dance Studio in Ogden, Utah; attended Weber College for two years and Utah State University; earned a master's degree in recreation and a teacher's certificate; taught elementary school in Ogden for two years before joining the faculty at Brigham Young University in 1953 to develop the recreation and social dance programs; retired from Brigham Young University in 1979; He and his wife then served as missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and were called on several short missions to Europe teaching dance and activities to the leaders and members of the church; was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving on the the Mutual Improvement Association Board for 15 years, as well as in various ward, stake, and church positions; passed away on 30 November, 2002 in Provo, Utah). UPB Files, Feb. 22, 2019 (Goa, India). findagrave, via WWW, Feb. 22, 2019 (five children).

Found in 3 Collections and/or Records: