Val “Buster” Bloxham

Val “Buster” Bloxham died peacefully at his ranch in Wayan, Idaho on Friday, July 30th, 2010. Buster was born in Downey, Idaho on January 3rd, l935 to Thomas Isaac Bloxham and Dorothy Hadley Bloxham. He was one of four children. Buster grew up on a farm on the Downey flats. As a youth, he participated in 4H and won many awards for showing his cattle. He was full of life and always up to something. He gave his parents, teachers, and school principals a run for their money! He graduated from Downey High School, and went on to attend Idaho State University.
In 1956, he married Madlyn Jones. Their marriage was solemnized in the Los Angeles LDS Temple in April, l977.
After the birth of their first daughter, they moved to California. They spent the next 47 years in Hacienda Heights, California. They raised their family of four children there. In 2004, they moved to Padre Lakes in Ivins, Utah. They enjoyed being around the many cousins and friends who were also living there, and would spend their winters in Ivins and their summers in Wayan.
Buster was a driver for Consolidated Freightways for 40 years. In 1992, he received a safety award for driving over 2,000,000 accident-free miles. He retired from Consolidated in l997. This gave him more time to enjoy his hobbies of hunting, fishing, traveling, and building a log home in Wayan. He spent many hours in his beloved Wayan, surrounded by his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and any friends he could talk into dropping by.
He was active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He loved being involved with the youth in the scouting program. He served in various positions in the Church, including counselor in the Bishopric, Stake Missionary, and High Priest Group Leader. He was often asked to home teach the less-active and hard-to-reach members because of his friendly and loving attitude.
He and his wife also served a Stake Mission in El Monte, California.
He took seriously his role of father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He worked side by side his posterity to help teach them life-long skills, such as home building and repair. He instilled in them a strong work ethic and the satisfaction that comes from a job well done. He truly was a great example to his posterity.
Buster is survived by his wife, Madlyn; children: Tawna Bloxham Bodily (Merrill), Hacienda Heights, California; Travis Bloxham (Kelly), Brea, California; Theresa Bloxham, Cypress, California; and Thomas Bloxham (Rebecca), New Braunfels, Texas. He is also survived by twelve grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Also surviving are his two sisters: Sharon Thorpe (Blair), Malad, Idaho; and Beth Treasure (Dee), Roy, Utah.
Buster was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Gordon Bloxham.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, August 5th, 2010, at 1:00 p.m. in the Virginia, Idaho LDS chapel. Friends may call from 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the Virginia chapel prior to the funeral services, or on Wednesday, August 4th, 2010, at the Gray’s Lake, Idaho, LDS chapel from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at 94 Gray’s Lake Road, Wayan, Idaho.
Interment will be held immediately following the funeral at the Downey, Idaho cemetery. Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Horsley Funeral Home, Malad, Idaho.