Melvyn Richard Standage of Mesa, Arizona, passed away peacefully at age 79 on May 30, 2024, surrounded by many loving family members. Born on December 4,1944, he was a man of integrity, quiet wisdom, extraordinary service and unwavering faith. He valued hard work and found solitude in his early morning walks and in the great outdoors.
He was deeply involved in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, serving his community in many capacities with dedication and selflessness. While serving a mission for the LDS Church in Chile, he met Edith Victoria (“Vickie”) Brito. They married in May 1966. They raised seven children and later served a mission together in the Central American Area Office in Guatemala. After 56 years of marriage, Vickie passed away in 2022. The following year Richard married Thelma Shupe.
Those who knew Richard will always remember his love for his family and for the Lord, serving both with compassion, careful attention and boundless energy. He had a profound impact on many lives, offering steady guidance, support and inspired counsel.
Richard is preceded in death by his wife, Vickie; his daughter, Laurie Amos; his parents Mel and Helen Standage; and his brother, Robert (“Bobby”). He leaves behind a remarkable legacy and will be dearly missed by his many friends and loving family, including his new bride Thelma Shupe Standage; his children John (Anna), Richard (Gayle), Paul (Tammy), Tina Bushman (John), Julie Turner (James) and Jeff (Tracy); son-in-law Brian Amos; his brothers Rod (Mitzi) and Kim (Maggie), and his sister Lori Painter (Rob). At the time of his passing Richard had 28 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren, 7 step-children, 16 step-grandchildren, and many other beloved family members and friends.
There will be a visitation Thursday, June 6, 2024, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at Bunker’s Garden Chapel, 33 N. Centennial Way in Mesa. Funeral services will be held Friday, June 7, 2024, at 9:00am at the LDS chapel located at 1050 S. Hobson in Mesa, preceded by a brief visitation at 8:00am. Richard will be laid to rest at the Mesa City Cemetery.
For those who wish to live stream the funeral services … bit.ly/mesastake.
Arrangements by Bunker’s Garden Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.
So sorry. He was a great man and served in many calling I have associated with him.
We send our love to your family at this great loss. We knew the Standages in 24th ward before we moved to Utah, then we came together again in Guatemala as we served our mission. They were such great people
There are so many ways and words that I can not describe or express to you, my Bishop Standage. Thank you so very much for being the person you are not only to your family, but to me at a time of my life when I needed you as my Bishop. I know with any calling it has its lessons, learning, understanding and more importantly to know how or in what way to do it in the Savior’s Way. I know that you did that and with such Love along with devotion to being an instrument in the hands of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Thank you does not put it right, dearly grateful says it a little bit better, but truly there is nothing like striving to express it in words that only the Spirit of God can be shared with the Spirit to Spirit. Hopefully, your family is feeling the deepest connection of Love, Peace, Comfort and in each of their lives individually what they each need now and moving forward with a very different way of living in this life.
I know God’s Love is there for each of your family members in what is best in the time it is needed.
But for now we all need to cry and be there for each other, because when you Love someone such as yourself it is hard to say goodbye for now.
You will definitely be missed.
Much Love, Cristina aka Cristy
What a great man Richard was in this life and he takes nothing less with him to the next. I remember when he was called to serve in the bishopric and had to shave his beard. With that “cosmetic” surgery he gained back 15 years of his life but I always thought he looked great in a beard. God bless the Standard family and Richard’s great memory.
What a great example of goodness. Prayers to your family. We love you.