Seven mission presidents and their wives have been called by the First Presidency to begin their service about July 1.
Randall Kay Bennett, 51, Russia Samara Mission; Foxhill Ward, North Salt Lake Utah Stake; branch president at the Provo Missionary Training Center; former counselor in a bishopric, high councilor, counselor in a stake Young Men presidency and missionary in the France Mission. Orthodontist. Born in Magrath, Alberta, Canada, to Donald Kay Bennett and Anne Darlene Long. Married Shelley Dianne Watchman, four children.
Sister Bennett is a former ward Young Women president, counselor and adviser, counselor in ward Relief Society and Primary presidencies, ward Primary teacher and ward Relief Society teacher. Born in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, to John and Vera Ingeborg Olson Watchman.
Robert Carl Craig, 58, Arizona Tempe Mission; Val Verda 9th Ward, Bountiful Utah Val Verda Stake; family relations teacher; former bishop and counselor, branch president, stake missionary, high councilor and high priests group leader. Director of Temporal Affairs for the Church. Born in Yreka, Calif., to Carl Stanley and Barbara Helen Whipple Craig. Married Shirley Jeanne Robarge, four children.
Sister Craig is a former ward Primary president, counselor in ward Relief Society and Young Women presidencies, stake missionary and Primary teacher. Born in Los Angeles, Calif., to Edward Le Roy and Mary Pearl Fatta Robarge.
J. Scott Dunaway, 52, Italy Milan Mission; Windsor 5th Ward, Orem Utah Windsor Stake; stake president; former bishop, high priests group leader, high councilor, ward mission leader and missionary in the Italy Rome Mission. Assistant dean for the College of Family, Home and Social Sciences at Brigham Young University. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to James Bryant and Ruth Eloese Anderson Dunaway. Married Ruth M. L. Malmfeldt, five children.
A ward Sunday School teacher, Sister Dunaway is a former counselor in a ward Relief Society presidency, ward Primary chorister, ward enrichment leader and gospel doctrine teacher. Born in Binghamton, N. Y., to John Arthur Malmfeldt and Roberta Louise (Nopper) Jackson.
Ross Hawkins Marchant, 56, Indonesia Jakarta Mission; Valley View 8th Ward, Salt Lake Holladay North Stake; branch executive secretary; former counselor in a bishopric, ward clerk, high priests group leader assistant, ward Primary teacher and missionary in the Indonesia Jakarta Mission. Claims representative and governmental affairs, Farmers Insurance Group. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Evan Harper and La Rhea Hawkins Marchant. Married B. Heidi Thompson, eight children.
A ward family record extraction worker, Sister Marchant is a former stake Relief Society secretary, ward Primary president, counselor in a Relief Society presidency, visiting teacher and Relief Society compassionate service leader. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Arthur and Bergliot Paulsen Thompson.
Robert Lynn Mellor, 52, Spain Malaga Mission; Oak Woods Ward, Kaysville Utah Crestwood Stake; ward young single adult adviser; former counselor in a bishopric, elders quorum president, branch president and missionary in the Colombia Bogota Mission. Ear, nose and throat physician, Tanner Clinic. Born in Laramie, Wyo., to Jesse Lynn and Barbara Jean Forrest Mellor. Married Claire Ann Ezell, four children.
A ward young single adult adviser, Sister Mellor is a former counselor in a stake Relief Society presidency, ward Relief Society and Young Women president and Primary teacher. Born in Aberdeen, Md., to Robert Lee and Alice Marie Young Ezell.
Loveday Iheanyichi Nwankpa, 50, Nigeria Port Harcourt Mission; Okpu Umuobo Ward, Aba Nigeria Stake; stake president; former high councilor, stake and ward executive secretary and stake public affairs director. Country security manager. Born in Eziama Ovungwu, Nigeria, to Amos Osuagwu and Love Mercy Nwankpa. Married Love Oluchi Aghale, four children.
A temple ordinance worker, Sister Nwankpa is a former ward Relief Society and Primary president and Relief Society teacher. Born in Umuagu Ibeku, Nigeria, to Onyebuchi and Edina Aghale.
Gordon Lyle Talbot, 57, Iowa Des Moines Mission; Eastmont Ward, Sandy Utah Central Stake; counselor in the stake presidency; former bishop, high councilor, stake Young Men president, stake mission president and temple ordinance worker. Truck driver, Yellow Transportation. Born in Panguitch, Utah, to Stanley Elias and Mamie Norton Talbot. Married Katheryn McMullin, five children.
A ward Relief Society pianist and secretary to the stake president, Sister Talbot is a former ward Relief Society and Primary president, counselor in a ward Young Women presidency and temple ordinance worker. Born in Roosevelt, Utah, to Marriner Frank and Jennie Pearl Jenkins McMullin.
