Eight new mission presidents and their wives have been called by the First Presidency. They will begin their service in July.
John Edwin Bennion, 64, and Sondra Shumway Bennion, eight children, Parleys 6th Ward, Salt Lake Parleys Stake: Georgia Atlanta North Mission, succeeding President Mark A. Wolfert and Sister Carol A. Wolfert. Brother Bennion is a former bishop, high councilor, ward Young Men president, seminary teacher and missionary in the French East Mission. Program director, LDS Business College. Born in Oakland, Calif., to Donald Clark Bennion and Margaret Marie Jacobsen Bennion.
Sister Bennion is a former counselor in a ward Relief Society presidency, ward Young Women adviser, ward and stake music/choir director and Primary music leader. Born in Baltimore, Md., to Hyrum Smith Shumway and Sarah Bagley Shumway.
E.J. Caffaro, 54, and Shari Lynn Quale Caffaro, four children, Lehi 17th Ward, Lehi Utah East Stake: Guatemala Guatemala City South Mission, succeeding President Larry Stay and Sister Joyce Stay. Brother Caffaro serves as a gospel doctrine teacher and is a former bishop, high councilor, stake executive secretary, counselor in a stake Young Men presidency and missionary in the Colombia Cali Mission. Associate director, admissions, Brigham Young University. Born in Bronx, N.Y., to John Joseph Caffaro and Rita Anne Zito Caffaro Magdalany.
Sister Caffaro is a former ward Young Women and Primary president, counselor in a ward Relief Society presidency, ward single adult adviser and gospel doctrine teacher. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., to William Andreas Quale and Veronica Estel Quale.
Dell Clair Felix, 63, and Maurine Pond Felix, five children, Cottonwood Heights 2nd Ward, Salt Lake Cottonwood Heights Stake: California Ventura Mission, succeeding President Fernando R. Castro and Sister Nora Castro. Brother Felix serves as a high priests group instructor and is a former bishop, YSA bishop, high councilor, stake Young Men president, Church-service missionary and missionary in the Argentina North Mission. Physical therapist, owner, Dell C. Felix, PT & Associates. Born in Logan, Utah, to Clarence Ernest Felix and Marian Phyllis Brimhall Felix.
Sister Felix serves as a temple ordinance worker and is a former stake Young Women president, ward Relief Society president, ward Young Women president, ward Primary president and Church-service missionary. Born in Salt Lake City to Richard Smith Pond and Maurine White Pond.
Glen David Mella, 56, and Elizabeth Marguerite Shill Mella, eight children, Orem Utah Canyon View 10th Ward, Orem Utah Canyon View Stake: California San Jose Mission, succeeding President W. Lincoln Watkins and Sister Rebeckah Watkins. Brother Mella is a former counselor in a stake presidency, high councilor, stake Young Men president, bishop, elders quorum president and missionary in the California San Diego Mission. CEO, Cypher. Born in Chelsea, Mass., to Gordon Weed Mella and Dorothee May Lusson Mella.
Sister Mella is a former counselor in stake and ward Young Women presidencies, ward Primary president, seminary teacher and missionary in the Japan Okayama Mission. Born in San Antonio, Texas, to Talmage Webb Shill and Nancy Lynne Dyer Shill.
Creg Donald Ostler, 56, and Sondra Davies Ostler, seven children, Northridge Ward, Mesa Arizona Hermosa Vista Stake: Philippines Manila Mission, succeeding President Lyle J. Stucki and Sister Bonnie Stucki. Brother Ostler is a former stake president, counselor in a mission presidency, stake mission president, stake executive secretary, bishop and missionary in the Austria Vienna Mission. Managing director, Stoker Ostler Wealth Advisors. Born in Los Angeles, Calif., to C Donald Ostler and Vivian Marie Stupeck Ostler.
Sister Ostler is a former counselor in a stake Primary presidency, ward Young Women president, ward Primary president, counselor in a ward Relief Society presidency and ward missionary. Born in Salt Lake City to Leon Alfred Davies and Marilyn Kay Ward Davies.
Jeffrey Randall Smith, 59, and Karen Teresa Bone Smith, six children, Rock Canyon Ward, Provo Utah Edgemont South Stake: Japan Sendai Mission, succeeding President Gary D. Rasmussen and Sister Pamela L. Rasmussen. Brother Smith is a former counselor in a stake presidency, bishop, MTC branch president, high councilor and missionary in the Japan Fukuoka/Japan West Mission. Orthopedic surgeon, Intermountain Healthcare. Born in Provo, Utah, to Wilford Emery Smith and Ruth Christensen Smith.
Sister Smith is a former stake Relief Society president, counselor in a stake Relief Society presidency, ward Relief Society president, ward Young Women president, ward Primary president, temple ordinance worker and Cub Scout leader. Born in Columbia, S.C., to Joseph H. (Bill) Bone and Marjorie Cutchen.
Forast Brent Thomas, 58, and Carolyn Rawsthorne Thomas, six children, Airdrie 1st Ward, Calgary Alberta North Stake: Democratic Republic of the Congo Lubumbashi Mission, succeeding President Phillip W. McMullin and Sister Joy McMullin. Brother Thomas is a former stake president, bishop, high councilor, elders quorum president and missionary in the France Paris Mission. Director of research and development, Weatherford Laboratories. Born in High River, Alberta, Canada, to Joseph Alston Thomas and Hilda Thomas.
Sister Thomas serves as a ward Relief Society instructor and is a former ward Young Women president, ward Primary president, counselor in a ward Relief Society presidency, seminary teacher and missionary in the Italy Rome Mission. Born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, to Clifford Rawsthorne and Thelma Sophia Rawsthorne.
John Stewart Zarbock, 59, and Kathy Kelly Zarbock, four children, Crescent View Ward, Sandy Utah Crescent Stake: Micronesia Guam Mission, succeeding President Stephen F. Mecham and Sister Angela W. Mecham. Brother Zarbock is a former counselor in a stake presidency, high councilor, bishop, elders quorum president, institute teacher and missionary in the Japan Nagoya Mission. General partner, Okane Exchange Inc. Born in Salt Lake City to Robert Ferdinand Zarbock and Deanne Stewart Zarbock.
Sister Zarbock serves as a Sunday School teacher and is a former counselor in ward Relief Society, Young Women and Primary presidencies and missionary in the Uruguay Montevideo Mission. Born in Salt Lake City to Robert Elmer Kelly and Geraldine Hay Kelly.
