Clyde Elden Sowell

Our beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend, Clyde Elden Sowell, passed away March 18, 2022 from causes incident to age and dementia. Clyde was born on June 26, 1934 to Carl Sowell and Iris Wadsworth Sowell, in Echo, Utah, the youngest of three children.
Clyde spent his childhood and youth in Summit County, attending school in Echo and Coalville, and serving as the Student Body President of North Summit High School in 1952. He loved the outdoors, and the Weber River and surrounding hills of Echo made possible many pleasurable hours of fishing, hunting, hiking and exploring. Clyde was also very athletic and participated in football, basketball, baseball and track, talents that would serve him well in later years as he coached his boys. Clyde attended Weber State College, taking classes in engineering and was offered a position at IBM, where he was employed for the next 30 years. After beginning to work for IBM, Clyde and Ruby moved their family to Centerville, where they have lived for the last 59 years. After retiring from IBM, he and his son, Todd, became certified as building inspectors and ran a successful business for the next several years. Clyde was a born engineer and had the very well-deserved reputation of being able to make anything and fix everything! His talents in this regard have been and will continue to be sorely missed.
Clyde married his high school sweetheart, Ruby Crittenden, on April 29, 1954 in the Salt Lake Temple, and together they became the parents of four children: Don (Joni), Washington, Utah; Kathy (Jay) Spencer, Centerville, Utah; Todd (Liz), Centerville, Utah; and Jeff (Nancy), Clearfield, Utah. Family was so important to Clyde and he spent thousands of hours coaching his boys in Little League football and baseball throughout their younger years. He was a driving force, along with several others, in getting these youth programs started in Centerville in the 1960’s. He also loved the time spent fishing and hunting with his sons and grandsons. Strong bonds were formed waiting for that trout to bite or pheasant to fly out of the weeds. Family get-togethers, whether for reunions, vacations or simple meals were cherished and loved.
Clyde was a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served faithfully in various auxiliaries and positions throughout his life, some of which were a teacher, Ward Executive Secretary, Boy Scout leader and High Councilor. Many of Clyde’s most memorable adventures came with the young men. Favorites included hikes to Red Castle in the High Uintas and Klondike Derby’s. In April 2002 to October 2002, Clyde and Ruby served a mission at Martin’s Cove, Wyoming, meeting people who would become dear friends and helping to preserve the legacy of their pioneer heritage.
In 1989, Clyde and Ruby bought a lot in Island Park, Idaho, where they placed a mobile home and then built an A-frame addition on top (a true work of art) and spent the next 28 summers enjoying the beauty of the outdoors. Life-long friends were made in Island Park
and treasured memories were made with family and friends every summer.
Clyde was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Carl Wesley and sister, Ilah Jean. He is survived by his wife, Ruby, his four children, grandchildren Ryan, Scott, Lindsay, Christopher, Sierra, Shad, Mandy, Trevor, Jaclyn, Tara, Anthony, Hunter, Keltsey, Kylee and ShaDee; and 34 great-grandchildren.
Clyde’s family wish to express their gratitude and heart-felt thanks to Mom, for caring for Dad so lovingly the past four years as his dementia worsened, to Com4Care caregivers Heather Cartwright, Morgan Fenstermaker and MacKenzie Scott; Utah Home Health & Hospice aides, especially Season; and finally, the care-givers at Truewood Bountiful. We are grateful for their compassionate service to Dad.
Services will be held on Wednesday, March 23, 2022 at the Centerville Canyon Ward, 140 South 300 East, Centerville, Utah at 11:00 a.m. A viewing will also be held prior to the services from 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Interment will be in the Centerville Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Missionary Fund or Humanitarian Fund.
Services will be streamed live on Russon Mortuary & Crematory Facebook page and on this obituary page.