Lucybeth Rampton Explained

Lucybeth Rampton
Office:First Lady of Utah
Term Label:In role
Term Start:January 4, 1965
Term End:January 3, 1977
Predecessor:Ora Packard
Successor:Norma Matheson
Birth Name:Lucy Elizabeth Cardon
Birth Date:10 August 1914
Birth Place:Washington, D. C., U.S.
Death Place:Millcreek, Utah, U.S.
Spouse:Cal Rampton (1940-2004, her death)
Parents:Phillip Vincent Cardon
Leah Ivins

Lucy Elizabeth Cardon Rampton (August 10, 1914  - January 23, 2004) was the First Lady of Utah between 1965 and 1977.[1]

Early life

Rampton was born in Washington, D.C. to Phillip Vincent Cardon and Leah Ivins. She grew up and attended school in Logan, Utah. She earned a bachelor's degree from Utah State University in Logan and her master's in anthropology at the University of Utah, which later awarded her an honorary doctorate. She was active in the university's Department of Anthropology for most of her adult life leading up to, and in part including, her years of service to Utah. She taught for two years at Westminster College in Salt Lake City.

Personal life

She married Calvin L. Rampton on March 10, 1940, establishing a partnership eventually known to most Utahns as "Lucybeth and Cal". The two had met on a blind date while living in Washington.

Public Life

Lucybeth suffered from severe depression and as First Lady she spoke publicly about her experience. In recognition of her efforts to raise awareness about mental illness, a new residential building at the Utah State Hospital was named in her honor in 2003.[2]

Death

On January 21, 2004, she suffered a heart attack at her home and was rushed to the hospital. She died two days later at St. Mark's Hospital in Millcreek, Utah, aged 89. She was interred at the Salt Lake City Cemetery.

References

  1. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,590038550,00.html "Lucybeth Rampton, 89, dies," Deseret News, Jan. 24, 2004
  2. https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s61k3n5x/23563832.html "New facility for mentally ill opens," Daily Herald, Oct. 10 2003