Obituary: Howard Bassett Leatham

Howard Bassett Leatham 1929 ~ 2006 Howard Bassett Leatham, beloved husband, father and grandfather, passed away on April 8, 2006. He was born January 20, 1929 in Wellsville, Utah. He was the son of Howard P. Leatham and Hilda Wheatley Leatham. He spent the first eight years of his life moving between Wellsville and Salt Lake City. In 1937 he moved to the Capitol Hill area of Salt Lake. He resided in Salt Lake County for the rest of his life. He graduated from West High School in 1946. Howard served a mission in Birmingham, England for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1948 to 1950. He developed a love for the people of that area and has maintained contact with many of them who subsequently moved to Utah. He graduated from the University of Utah in 1952 with a degree in Civil Engineering. On March 25, 1953 he married Arda Wetzel, who brightened his life for 53 years. Howard worked for the Utah Department of Transportation for over a span of 40 years, beginning as a flagman on a paint crew and retiring as Engineer for Planning and Programming. He is survived by his wife Arda, sisters Hettie Simmons and Dorothy Larsen, sons David, Dick, Wade and Rod, daughters-in-law Shelly, Lisa, Karen and Mary, and 17 grandchildren who he called his great-grandchildren because he thought they were all great. The most important things in his life were his wife and family and his life long friends. Had it been in his power to have tarried a little longer, he would have, but he died with no other regrets and with gratitude for the good life he enjoyed. Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. Friday, April 14 at the Union Fort Sixth Ward Chapel, 6710 South 1300 East, in Midvale, Utah. Family and friends may call from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 13 at Larkin Sunset Lawn Mortuary, 2350 East 1300 South, Salt Lake City and from 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. at the church prior to the services. Interment will be at the Salt Lake City Cemetery. Online condolences at wwwlarkinmortuary.com.