Darol Ray Krantz

Our handsome, sweet husband, father and friend passed away peacefully at the home where he spent his last 32 years on February 1, 2017.  He was born on July 11, 1936, to Henry and Ida Krantz on Highland Drive in Holladay, Utah.  Darol was the youngest child of the family, which consisted of two sisters, Marlene and Ardel, as well as one brother, LaVar.  The Krantz property included a printing shop where Darol would work after school and on weekends.

Music always moved him, and he loved playing the trumpet in the University of Utah band where attended business school.  Taking his music appreciation in a new direction, he opened his own successful audio business, Broadway Music, in 1958, which became the go-to source for audiophiles in downtown Salt Lake City.

He married Marjorie Cook in 1963, and they had one son, Kurston.  They were later divorced in 1982.  At the end of 1983, Darol married the love of his life, Phyllis Johnson.  They had one daughter, Angella, who was also musically inclined.  Angella was able to witness another avenue of his music enthusiasm as she watched her mother and father attend ballroom dancing classes at Butler Studio in Holladay, Utah.  They even installed a small dance floor in their home beneath the garage where Darol kept his impressive record collection, which included many big band tunes.

In 1996, Darol began working at ZCMI in the Cottonwood Mall, which later became Macy’s.  He would look forward to coming home from work to hear Phyllis’ mixed CD compilations.  He retired in 2014 after standing for long periods became challenging.

Darol enjoyed excursions to Las Vegas in the 80s and 90s with Phyllis to see their favorite performer, Engelbert Humperdink.  His 23-year Vegas hiatus ended in October 2016 when his son-in-law, Gary Johnson, treated him to a bit of old Vegas stage-show charm with a ticket to the Million Dollar Quartet.  Gary and Angella are grateful that one of their last memories of him was an ear-to-ear smile adorned in his salt and pepper mustache.

He is survived by his wife, Phyllis; son, Kurston; daughter, Angella; step-children, Gary Johnson and Robert Johnson; and his sister-in-law, Marilyn Krantz.

Darol was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Funeral services will be held at 12:00pm in the LDS chapel located at 4407 South Fortuna Way, Salt Lake City, Utah 84124.  Where a viewing for family and friends will take place from 10:30-11:30am prior to the service.  Interment will be at the Holladay Memorial Park at 4900 South Memory Lane, Holladay, Utah 84117.  Following interment, a luncheon will be in the Relief Society room of the Fortuna chapel.