T. Bateman

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Obituary - T. Randall Bateman

Thomas Randall Bateman, age 76, passed peacefully from this world on New Year’s Eve, surrounded by loved ones in Provo, Utah after a valiant battle with pretty much everything. He was meticulous about arriving on time and finishing a job perfectly, so it’s no surprise that he chose to finish his work in this world on the last day of the year. It would have driven him nuts to start a year he couldn’t finish.

Imagine him waiting at the Pearly Gates, several hours early, looking at his watch and giving St. Peter a twinkling side-eye for not making it there before him and you’ve got a pretty perfect picture of our Dad.

Born in American Fork, Utah on March 13, 1945 to Wilford Waldo Bateman and Maurine Fage Bateman, Randall was a true baby boomer. He grew up in idyllic Alpine farm country with his four older siblings, Clarine, Louise, Lorna, and Brent. Randall attended American Fork High School and met his sweetheart, Barbara Earle Ashpole, during her summer visit to Alpine. He was smitten at first sight. After a dreamy courtship, they married in the Salt Lake Temple on September 3, 1965, embarking on a 33-year journey together.

In 1967, Randall and Barbara welcomed their first child, Debi Lee, jokingly nicknamed their “little draft dodger,” just in time to prevent Dad from being sent to Vietnam. Soon after, Halle Alice joined the happy little family. And several years later, they purchased a lovely family home in Midvale, with enough room for daughters Amy Michelle and Heather Lyn to fill up the family table.

Randall managed a local Dee’s Hamburger Drive-In for many years. After completing a rigorous 4-year apprenticeship and evening study, he obtained a Journeyman Carman degree and began a lifelong career as a railcar mechanic. In the early 90s, Randall applied for an extremely competitive position working for the new IPP Railcar Center in Springville, UT. Up against hundreds of other applicants from across the country, he earned the #1 position for the job where he stayed until his retirement.

In 2012, Southern Utah University presented Randall with an Honorary Certificate of Completion (after learning he had been prevented from graduating in 1966 due to a catalog error resulting in one final course not being offered). The University also recognized his achievement of the 4-year apprenticeship to become a Certified Railroad Journeyman Carman, as well as his certification as a Railcar Mechanic 1, 40+ years of dedicated, skilled work (with zero sick or late days), and a life of exemplary service and compassion.

Randall was also a master fisherman and this skill became a passion in his retirement years. Everyone knew him at the Spanish Fork Reservoir and Salem Pond. He would spend day after day fishing and teaching grandkids, friends, and anyone else nearby his secret way to bait the hook (he caught a fish every time!). He could clean the fish with such skill and speed that a crowd would often gather to watch. Then he’d neatly wrap the fileted fish in tin foil and take them around to neighbors. Eventually he had a "Fish List" of families that wanted a turn and he’d rotate through the names. This is just one of countless examples of Randall’s incredible patience, love for nature, and devotion to blessing others with his knowledge, skills, fun-loving spirit, and compassionate service.

Randall could fix anything and he loved teaching his kids (and anyone else within earshot) how to do it too. All his children knew how to change tires and oil, drive a stick shift, unclog toilets, fix leaky pipes, tighten hinges, and balance a checkbook by the time they were in high school.

Randall loved spending time with his children, their cats, his motorcycle, his Volkswagen Bug Herbie (who he got up on two wheels once on purpose, just like the movie), his best friends John Clark and brother-in-law Ron Crum, outrunning his kids around Disneyland, and of course, tinkering on anything mechanical to make it run better.

With his charm, good looks, mischievous smile, and signature mustache, Randall was often mistaken for Burt Reynolds or Patrick Stewart. This resemblance getting called out tickled him pink every time.

Dad was our rock. He created a sense of safety, stability, playfulness, optimism, and unconditional love everywhere he went. He gave his children a great love for puns, practical jokes, humorous songs, animals, delicious snacks, Halloween, movies, Disneyland, nature, fixing and building things, responsibility, service, and unconditional kindness and friendship. Unfortunately, only Halle inherited his punctuality, but the rest of us are still working on it. Thanks for always waiting with a smile, Dad. We’ll meet you there soon.

Enjoy the rest you earned a thousand times over, Pops, Papa, Daddy-Man, Birdman, Grandpa Mickey, Dad.

Randall lives on in the hearts of his children Debi Lee Wallace, Halle Alice McGowan, Amy Michelle Lyman, and Heather Lyn Mason, his devoted sons-in-law George Wallace, Robert Michael Lyman, and David Lee Mason, his adoring grandchildren Kealohilani Wallace, Jadissa Michelle Lyman, Sierra Rose Lyman, Elijah Michael Lyman, and Rhys Randall Mason, and countless friends, neighbors, and strangers whose lives he brightened with his kindness and humor.

Randall will be honored and laid to rest on Friday, January 7th, 2022.
9:30 - 10:45 AM - Viewing
11:00 - 12:00 PM - Celebration of Life Service
Spring Creek Mortuary, 737 N Main St, Springville UT

12:15 - 1:30 PM - Luncheon for all attendees
LDS Meeting House, 1627 Cadbury Lane, Springville, UT

2:30 PM - Interment and Grave Dedication
Alpine City Cemetery, 400 Grove Drive, Alpine UT

Condolences can be offered at www.springcreekmortuary.com.