Howard W. Hunter, the next in seniority, served as acting president. Romney died from natural causes at his home in Salt Lake City at age 90. He served 47 years as a church general authority. Funeral services were held in the Salt Lake Tabernacle on May 23, 1988, presided over by Benson. Romney was buried at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park in Salt Lake City, beside his wife, approximately 10 years after her death. The Deseret News Church Almanac remembered him as a "renowned Church Welfare pioneer and Book of Mormon scholar". See also Thomas E. McKay Nicholas G. Smith References General references 1897 births 1988 deaths 20th-century Mormon missionaries American Mormon missionaries in Australia American general authorities (LDS Church) Apostles (LDS Church) Assistants to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Brigham Young University alumni Brigham Young University–Idaho alumni Citizens of the United States through descent Counselors in the First Presidency (LDS Church) Doctrine and Covenants people Latter Day Saints from California Latter Day Saints from Idaho Latter Day Saints from Utah Democratic Party members of the Utah House of Representatives Mexican emigrants to the United States Mexican general authorities (LDS Church) Mexican people of American descent People from Colonia Juárez, Chihuahua Presidents of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (LDS Church) Romney family University of Utah alumni Utah lawyers