"Will Be Missed"
Don was reverently and affectionately called "Papa" by his loved ones and "Doc" by all. Doc loved life. He loved everything he did, the people he met, and he lived life to its fullest everyday. The very mention of this true Renaissance man conjures up vivid images of a skinny yet exceptionally strong, feisty yet extremely sensitive, busy yet balanced between church, family, work and friends, demanding yet Christ-like in his compassion, integrity, service and ability to forgive.
He was born on his grandmother's kitchen table February 25, 1925 to Lovena Hill and Charles Clyde Sansom. He grew up on his grandfather's farm in Granger, Utah and moved to the city where he graduated from East High and joined the Air Force. On his first mission, Doc was lead bombardier of the Commander's B-17 and was shot down over Yugoslavia. Captured by German soldiers, Doc spent 12 months as a 19 year-old in a concentration camp.
Upon returning from war he attended the U of U, married the beautiful, talented and artistic, Barbara Sims. They were married in the Salt Lake LDS Temple, were sweethearts for 58 years and will go down as one of the classic love stories of all times.
Doc graduated from the University of Missouri with a DDS and served as the president of the Utah Dental Society. He practiced dentistry for 50 years, loved his work and cherished the lifelong friendships with his patients. Doc served on the high council, as Scout leader, as Young Men's president, and many other callings in his church.
Doc was always in search of the perfect golf swing, the perfect powder mountain and the tranquility of glassy smooth lake water. As the "Silver Fox" of Snowbird he was usually leading extreme skiers speeding down a steep fall line, or patiently teaching hundreds of young men and woman to ski. He taught loved ones how to be fully alive and set a new standard for "going for it."
Doc passed away March 19, 2004 and is survived by his wife, Barbara Sims Sansom; and their six children, Peggy Smith (Steve), George Sansom, Christine Morgan (Todd), Greg Sansom (Linda), Kelly Clark (Dan), Heather Perkins (Todd); along with 13 grandchildren; and two great-grand-children.
A special thanks to the medical team at Care Source for their kind, loving, and compassionate care.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, March 23, 2004 at 12 noon at the Salt Lake Olympus Stake Center, 2675 East 4430 South. Friends may call Monday, March 22, 2004 from 6-8 p.m. at the Cottonwood Mortuary 4670 So. Highland Dr. and Tuesday, March 23, 2004 from 10-11:40 a.m. at the Salt Lake Olympus Stake Center. Interment, Elysian Gardens. Visit www.donaldcsansom.com