Four new temple presidents and their wives have been called by the First Presidency. They will begin their service later this year.
George Dee Bankhead, 68, Oakville Ward, St. Louis Missouri South Stake, called as president of the St. Louis Missouri Temple, succeeding President G. Richard Oscarson. President Bankhead's wife, Anita Elaine Stokes Bankhead, will serve as temple matron. He serves as the first counselor in the St. Louis Missouri Temple presidency. He has served in the presidency of the Missouri St. Louis Mission, stake president, bishop and high councilor. A retired orthodontist, he was born in Logan, Utah, to Samuel Leo and Harriet Isabel Taylor Bankhead.
Sister Bankhead serves as an assistant to the matron of the St. Louis Missouri Temple. She has served as a stake Primary president and as a counselor in stake and ward Relief Society, Young Women and Primary presidencies. She was born in Brigham City, Utah, to Vernon Leon and Dorothy Elaine Glenn Stokes.
Norman Curtis Boehm, 74, Fair Oaks 5th Ward, Carmichael California Stake, called as president of the Sacramento California Temple, succeeding President William W. Parmley. President Boehm's wife, Evelyn Jensen Boehm, will serve as temple matron. He serves as a sealer in the Sacramento California Temple and as a temple preparation teacher. He has served as an Area Seventy, first counselor in the Sacramento California Temple presidency, president of the Russia Samara Mission, stake president and bishop. A retired executive director for the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training for the State of California, he was born in Milwaukee, Wis., to Kurt Paul and Paula Elsa Hilbig Boehm.
Sister Boehm serves as a temple ordinance worker in the Sacramento California Temple and as a temple preparation teacher. She served with her husband as he presided over the Russia Samara Mission. She has also served as an assistant to the matron of the Sacramento California Temple and in ward Relief Society and Young Women presidencies. She was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Rulen Leon and Bertha Lazenby Jensen.
A. Roger Merrill, 67, Bloomington Hills 6th Ward, St. George Utah Bloomington Hills Stake, called as president of the Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple, succeeding President Alan S. Layton. President Merrill's wife, Rebecca Suzann Rippy Merrill, will serve as temple matron. He serves as a temple ordinance worker in the St. George Utah Temple, high councilor and institute instructor. He has served as an Area Seventy, Sunday School general president, Melchizedek Priesthood general committee, stake president and bishop. An author and consultant in the area of leadership development, he was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Ariel Cardon and Edith Horsley Merrill.
Sister Merrill serves as a temple ordinance worker in the St. George Utah Temple, and as a gospel doctrine teacher. She has served as ward Relief Society president, ward Primary president and stake music chairman. She was born in Dallas, Texas, to William Ray and Hesther L. Williams Rippy.
Gelson Pizzirani, 60, Indianópolis Ward, S? Paulo Brazil Santo Amaro Stake, called as president of the Recife Brazil Temple, succeeding President Frederick G. Williams. President Pizzirani's wife, Mirian Pizzirani, will serve as temple matron. He serves as a high councilor, and has served as an Area Seventy, president of the Brazil Campinas and Brazil Brasilia Missions, stake president, counselor in the Brazil Missionary Training Center presidency and bishop. A retired vice president of strategic planning for TAM Brazilian Airlines, he was born in S? Paulo, Brazil, to Presciliano and Alzira do Carmo Pizzirani.
Sister Pizzirani serves as a counselor in a ward Relief Society presidency. She served with her husband as he presided over the Brazil Campinas and Brazil Brasilia Missions. She has also served in a ward Relief Society presidency and as a Relief Society teacher. She was born in Bela Vista, Mato Grosso, Brazil, to Elias Santana and Nilda da Silva Sule.
