Dad, Background

My dad, Francis Marion Partridge, was born 0n March 16, 1917, in Salt Lake City. His dad, George, was the grandson of Bishop Edward Partridge, the first bishop called in the latter days. His mom, Lucy Lyman Partridge was the daughter of Francis Marion Lyman, Apostle, and the grand daughter of another Apostle, Amassa Mason Lyman.

Quite a pedigree. However, I have found that you have to live your own life, learn your own lessons, develop your own character and find your own testimony.

Mom and dad got married on a December 26, back in the 1930s, in Berkeley, California. The ceremony took place in the home of Glen Harmon, my mother's uncle.

When we lived in Alhambra, California, my dad was working for the Southern California Gas Company in the Gas Company Building on Flower Street in downtown Los Angeles. Dad used to take the "Red Car" - the old Pacific Electric Railroad that ran all over Southern California - to work. I frequently walked up to Huntington Drive to meet his train in the evenings. Sometimes, usually on Fridays, he brought me a treat of some kind.

In about 1956 (I think), dad went to work for Pacific Northwest Pipeline Corporation (PNPC). PNPC was a subsidiary of the El Paso Natural Gas Company, headquartered in texas. PNPC was established solely for the purpose of constructing a natural gas pipeline from Texas to the Pacific Northwest (Idaho, Oregon, Washington, et al). Up until then, there was no natural gas in those areas except propane.

Dad had to work in Texas for a few months, but would soon be based in Salt Lake City. Mom and my sisters and I moved (drove) to Salt Lake before I entered the fifth grade. Dad had been in Texas.

The day we got there, dad told me I could go on a business trip with him the very next day. We flew to Pocatello, Idaho on a Frontier Airlines DC 3 (my first ever airplane flight). At Pocatello we checked out a PNPC car. Dad had to inspect the pipeline between Pocatello and somewhere in southeastern Utah. All I remember is we had a great time.

Dad was always a good dad and a good husband. I always knew that mom and dad loved each other. Dad was also always a solid Priesthood holder and active member of the church. He always set a great example for me and I sometimes did a good job following his example.

Dad passed away nearly four years ago. He was eight six and had lived a good life.