1907 ~ 2004
PROVO, UTAH Ila Eugenia Spilsbury Wheelwright was born November 10, 1907, to Archie Price and Maud McArthur Spilsbury in Toquerville, Utah.
She died Saturday, January 24, 2004, age 96, of heart failure. About age 9, her family moved to Cedar City, where she finished high school. Previously, she spent a year in Provo, where her violin playing won the gold medal for stringed instruments, open to all college students (older than Ila). She later attended the U of U, sang in the Tabernacle Choir, and played in the community orchestra. She returned to Cedar City to assist her mother following her brother's death. She met Lorin Farrar Wheelwright there with a "Hello!" They were married the following April 28, 1933, in the St. George Temple. After Lorin completed his PhD at Columbia University and a year in Oswego, New York, she persuaded him to come back to Utah, and they lived in Salt Lake City until 1963, then Provo, Utah. In Salt Lake, Ila helped organize the Music Circle Club (active 67 years), and attended the Opera Appreciation and Aurora Clubs. In Provo, she joined the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, Daughters of the American Revolution, BYU Women, and Ladies Literary Club. She has been a selfless, nurturing wife and mother without peer, and embraced new friends and experiences daily. She loved to read, memorize poetry, and play Scrabble. When asked, "How are you?" she replied, "Happy, thank you!" She has been a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints all of her life, faithfully attending the temple four days before her demise. Hours before her death she received welcome visits, sweet singing, and even joking from members of her treasured family. Ila's magnetic personality drew others to her, and she shared roses and love generously. Her gracious elegance will be greatly missed. The family appreciates the tender demonstrations of love given by visiting teachers, neighbors, and other loved ones.
She is survived by her brother-in-law, Max Wheelwright, and sister-in-law, Bette Spilsbury; her children: Mona (Calvin) Lowe (Toquerville, UT); Sylvia (Bert) Cundick, (Provo, UT); Donna (Don) Skudstad (Klamath Falls, OR); and Lynn (Melva) Wheelwright (Santa Rosa, CA); her grandchildren: Anita Lowe, Laura Lowe, Lorin (Amberlee) Lowe; Clay (Jean) Cundick, Kirt (Debra) Cundick, Kristin (Michael) Croyle; Bonnie (Mark) Holmquist, John Skudstad; Lance (Kyung Sook) Wheelwright, Wendy (Robert) Wheelwright /Kulitza, Liesel (Aaron) Hall, Andrew Wheelwright; her great-grand-children: Michael, Arwen, Ransom, and Josianne Cundick; Mason and Madeline Cundick; Anna and Ila Elizabeth Croyle; Daniel, John, Ammon, and Rachel Holmquist; Angel Jo and Justice Wheelwright. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 54 years (died 1987), and her brothers: Marlowe Price, Melvin Moroni (baby), Archie Rlington, and LeGrande Spilsbury.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, January 30, 2004 at 11:00 a.m. at the Oak Hills 9th Ward Chapel, 1960 N. 1500 E., Provo. Friends may call Thursday, January 29, 2004 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Walker-Sanderson Funeral Home, 646 E. 800 N., Orem, and again Friday from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m., prior to services, at the Chapel. A brief graveside service will be held at 3:30 p.m. at the Brigham City Cemetery. Arrangements are made under the direction of Spilsbury & Beard Mortuary, 110 S. Bluff St., St. George, Utah, (435) 673-2454. Condolences and happy memories can be sent to the family at www.walkerfamilymortuaries.com.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donating to the LDS Church Perpetual Education Fund.