7 Jul 1913 – 31 Aug 1983
2nd-Great-Grandson of Philip Cardon and Martha Marie Tourn
Great-Grandson of Louis Philip Cardon and Susette Stalé
Grandson of Joseph Samuel Cardon and Selenia Mesenile Walker
Son of Junius Welborn Cardon and Mae Whiting
A brief biography of Junius Welburn Cardon Jr. (Wig)
Contributed By Cardon, Wayne M
This biography was included in a Cardon Family Book compiled by LaMarr & Leona Cardon for a Cardon Reunion in 1986
JUNIUS WELBURN CARDON JR
Born July 7, 1913, St. Johns, Arizona
Blessed Sept 1913, by David A. Rencher
Baptized July 7, 1921, by Junius W. Cardon
Confirmed July 8, 1921, by Junius W. Cardon
Ordained: Deacon Aug 9, 1925, by Charles Whiting
Teacher Apr 7, 1929, by Elmer F. Taylor
Priest Jan 22, 1933, by W. C. Christensen
Elder Mar 11, 1951, by W. C. Stolworthy
Patriarchal Blessing by Benjamin A. Moffett, Jan 31, 1952
Grade School: Vernon, Ariz. (a. few months at St. Johns, Ariz.)
High School: Kirtland, New Mexico
Color of eyes: Blue Color of hair: Dark brown
Father: Junius W. Cardon Born Jan 21, 1891, Jaurez, Mexico
Mother: Mae Whiting Born Oct 7, 1891, Diaz, Mexico
Brothers and Sisters:
Robert Mancel, Irene, Carmen, Margaret Ethelyn, Herman Elwood, Elmer LaMarr, Alice LaVerne, Charles Dee
Junius Welburn Cardon was born in St. Johns Arizona. In the fall of 1919, he started school at the age of six. He did not go all year because his father, who had been working at McNary, had lost his job on account of the work closing down. We took him out of school and went up to our home on the ranch at Vernon, Arizona. This was in March, and he did not go to school any more until the next fall of 1920. There he started school again where his Uncle Frank Whiting was the teacher, (his first teacher was Natalia Greer). His daddy bought him a little buckskin pony that we called “Dapple”. He had a white mane and tail and was dappled with white spots. He rode him to school that year. The next, year we got another pony that we named “Chapo”. He was the pride and joy of both Welburn and Bob, who claimed ownership in him also, and they both rode him to school. They had to travel such a long distance and the altitude was so high that cold weather hindered their progress in this one-teacher school, so they just did not get a good start in education. However as time went on conditions improved some and it was not long until there were two teachers. Then we moved closer to the schoolhouse in Frank Whiting’s home on his homestead.
Later we built a nice little frame house on the Town site near the school and Welburn’s last two years in the grades were under better conditions. He and Guy Gillispie were the only two graduates from the eight grade. Wilburn bought a saxaphone that last year at Vernon. We got the job of janitor work at the school and that is how we paid for it. He played a saxophone solo on the program the night he graduated.
When Welburn was twelve years old he won first prize for the best quality of field corn, and was given a free sightseeing trip to southern Arizona. This was quite an experience for a young country boy.
The next fall we sold our home at Vernon and moved to Kirtland, New, Mexico. (The above was written by Mae W. Cardon). The rest of the family went on ahead in the car while Wig, (as he came to be known by everyone) Bob and an older boy were left to drive the model T truck loaded with chickens. It rained and rained a slow drizzle all the way from Gallup New Mexico to Shiprock. They were traveling over muddy, ungraveled roads and got stuck several times. When they arrived at the San Juan River it was in flood stage and the bridge had washed out. They were rescued the next day by Cecil Foutz and some Indians from Shiprock.
This was Wig’s first introduction to this part of the country. Not being too impressed, he talked his parents into letting him go back to Arizona for a few months. He found a job there working on a cattle ranch for Lee Wilhelm. When he returned home to Kirtland he attended high school there.
During the Depression Years, he and Bob Burnham went to Paradise, Utah where they found a job herding turkeys in the Wasatch Mountains. While there, Wig was stricken with a severe attack of appendicitis and was compelled to ride fifteen miles on a mule to the nearest doctor. He said he counted every step of the way. When he finally arrived the appendix had ruptured and for a few days his life was in jeopardy.
On June 19, 1937, Wig married Rozane Foutz, his beautiful fair-haired sweetheart with the beautiful voice. Later in March of 1951 they were sealed for time and all eternity in the temple at Mesa, Arizona. Wig and Rose have entertained many an audience at Kirtland with their singing. His own family remembers that they sang with Wig playing his guitar at every family gathering. As recently as June of 1983, he brought down the house at a family reunion with his rendition of “Treado“, which was his grandchildren’s favorite.
After several years of working in various places on the Indian reservation, Wig and Rose moved back to Farmington where he built their first real home on Wall Street which is still the family home.
He began working with his Dad in the building trade and it wasn’t long before he was on his own as a building contractor. He soon acquired a reputation of excellence in carpentry skills as did his father before him. Except for a few, brief interruptions he has been involved in the building business ever since. He was always honest in his dealings and could be trusted with only a verbal agreement by those who knew him well. Welburn passed away August 31, 1983 in Farmington, New Mexico.
The following are just a few thoughts expressed by his family:
“Dad was a great disciplinarian. He left that job to Mom and while she was taking care of a problem, he would be out back snickering, knowing that Mom could handle it.”
“Dad was the most gentle person. He loved people and was really too good for his own good. He enjoyed life and taught each of us, even his daughters-in-law, a compassionate love for life … to respect it and live it with sharing. He shared his innermost feelings in time of need to make us know there was always hope. His wisdom touched each of us and has helped us in our lives.”‘
“His patience was unbounding. The time he gave us could always be stretched. He never got in a hurry or rush when he could be involved with us.”
“His big heart for his family was always in the form of giving and sharing or even loaning his best personal belongings. Then forgiveness for all the little wrongs in a day that always seem to happen.”
“Wig loved to shop and was very generous with his friends and family. Where there was illness or heartache he would show up bringing gifts, and giving his support or anything that was possible for their comfort.”
“He was always ready for a big kiss when he said hello and gave the best smiles and hugs.”
“Dad loved new cars, all the latest gadgets for the house and garden. He even had the first color T V in Farmington. People from all around town came by to see it.”
“Musical instruments of all kinds caught his attention, his latest being the organ. In fact he would sneak down to the music store and take lessons, so that he could surprise Mom, but couldn’t wait and had the organ delivered and was playing Jingle Bells before we knew it.”
“Wig loved the outdoors. He taught his boys how to camp, fish and boat. He loved to sit around the campfire and play the guitar and sing along. He was a very gentle and caring person. He had many friends, many of them among the Navajo people.”
“He loved sports of all kinds especially when his own family was involved. Then there were the Dallas Cowboys. We all learned to be quiet and hope that Dallas won. Rooting became a family tradition for Grandpa.”
Each boy remembers the fishing, camping, family get-togethers, listening to Dad sing and play his guitar and tell stories. “Dad taught us two things–to tell the truth and to be honest. This he did by example and love. He had a heart as big as all outdoors.” (The above was taken from his obituary)
-Published online at familysearch.org ID: KWZ2-323, Memory tab.
Memory Gardens of Farmington, Farmington, San Juan County, New Mexico, Plot: Garden of Devotion, Section A, Lot 97
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