Robert (Bob) Calvin Choate

Robert (Bob) Calvin Choate passed away peacefully in Bountiful, Utah on May 29, 2016 surrounded by his family.  He was 94 years old and had lived a complete and devoted life.  He was born on November 13, 1921 in Lewiston, Utah to Calvin C. Choate and Nathalia Marie Gyllenskog, the third of five children.
Bob graduated from North Cache High School in 1940 where he earned  three letters in football, and when the Bulldogs played for the class-A championship in 1939, he was selected as tackle on the all-state prep eleven team.  He graduated from Utah State Agricultural College in 1948 where he was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.  Bob played varsity guard for two years under Coach Dick Romney and was a member of the 1946 championship team that went on to compete at the Raisin Bowl in Fresno, California in 1947.  This was the first bowl bid that Utah State had ever received.
He served in the Army ROTC and went on to serve in the Army during World War II as a first lieutenant, stationed in the United States and in Germany. He was honorably discharged from the Army in 1946.
Bob returned to Logan where he met Vera Marie Thomas at a dance at the Dansante, Cache Valley's premiere dance hall,  where she was employed as a hat check girl.  He told his roommate that night that he had found the girl he was going to marry.  They were married in the Salt Lake Temple on August 27, 1947.  They enjoyed 54 years together before Vera passed away on March 9, 2001.
Bob's professional career was as an educator, primarily in secondary schools.  He pioneered the first Driver's Education programs in Idaho and Utah.  His commitment and love of Driver's Education earned him great distinction at Bountiful High school where he taught until his retirement in 1985.  He estimated that he had taught around 8,000 students to drive.  He would often have people come up to him and say "Mr. Choate, you taught me to drive", which always pleased him immensely.
During his retirement, Bob spent many years as a faithful temple ordinance worker in the Salt Lake and Bountiful temples.  In addition, he was a consummate record keeper and spent many hours making sure the genealogy was up to date for his family, and took special joy in entering the records as his extended family grew over time.  Bob wrote and published his life history for the benefit of his posterity.  His wish for his family was to love one another and their Savior.
Bob was preceded in death by his loving wife Vera;  his parents;  his siblings William Earl, Roland DeMar, Viola Enid, and Eugene Lee; a granddaughter Amy Ferrin, a great-grandson Chase Hall, and a great-great grandson James Daniels.
He is survived by his four children: Barbara (Dennis) Ferrin, Larry (Jane) Choate, Beverly (Jack) Lemmon, Karen (Vaughn) Wennerstrom; 16 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, and 10 great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, June 6, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at the Bountiful 37th Ward LDS church, 1540 N 400 E, Bountiful.  Friends may gather with the family on Sunday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Russon Brothers Mortuary, 295 N. Main, Bountiful and Monday morning at the church one hour prior to the funeral. Interment at Lakeview Memorial Estates with military honors.