Richard Hyrum Westmoreland
Grandpa Dick
1908 ~ 2008
Richard Hyrum Westmoreland, age 99, was born August 24, 1908, in Gaffney, South Carolina, to William Alexander Westmoreland and Lissie Flowers Godfrey. He died on Jan. 15, 2008, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
When Richard was a young boy, the Westmoreland family moved to Utah and settled in Tremonton, Box Elder County. His mother died in the 1918 flu epidemic, leaving five children, with Richard, at 10, being the eldest. After Richard's father remarried, five more children were born to the family. Of the 10 children,
Richard is survived by only his youngest sister, Edna.
Richard entered the new Bear River High School at eighth grade and graduated 1927. He managed a grocery store in Tremonton until 1930, when, at age 22, he was hired to manage the O.P. Skaggs store in Green River, Wyoming. His managerial skills saved that store from impending financial ruin.
In 1935, he married Kathryn Naisbitt, of Hooper, Utah. Their marriage was solemnized in the
Jordan River Temple in 1983.
Richard and Kathryn began life together in Salt Lake City where
Richard worked for Prudential Insurance Company for 12 years. He completed his working career as a field officer for the Utah Department of Employment Security, now known as Job Service, retiring in 1973. Over the years, he kept up his friendships with his co-workers there, meeting with them for monthly luncheons.
Richard and Kathryn lived for 40 years in the 29th Ward, Riverside Stake, where he served in several positions in the church, notably as Superintendent of the Sunday School and also as ward financial clerk under four bishops. In 1982 they moved to East Millcreek, where they have lived ever since.
For many years Richard and
Kathryn played Scrabble every day. Perhaps because of that intellectual exercise, Richard remained sharp mentally into his hundredth year.
Richard is survived by Kathryn, his wife of 72 years, and daughters Joan Claire Kasteler (Darrell Lee, deceased), Linda Kathryn Luker (Kenneth), and Cleo Belle Stobbe (Joseph), all of Salt Lake City; 17 grandchildren, 39 great-grand-children, and his youngest sister,
Edna Burt, of Sparks, Nevada. Preceded in death by Estella Hughes, Ether Westmoreland, Mildred Vance and Marie Hollis.
The funeral will be held at the East Millcreek Ninth Ward, 3750 So. Hillside Lane, on Sat., January 19, 2008, at 11 a.m. Funeral directors are Larkin Mortuary, 260 E. South Temple, where friends and family may call on Fri., January 18 from 6-8 p.m. or at the church 10-10:45 a.m. before the service. Interment at Larkin Sunset Lawn Cemetery.