Vernon Arthur Woodward

Vernon Arthur Woodward, our beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother and friend, passed away Friday, October 5, 2018 peacefully in his sleep with his sweetheart by his side.  Vern was born May 9, 1944 in Ogden, Utah.  He graduated from Ogden High School and obtained a Welding Certificate from Utah Technical College (now Salt Lake Community College) in 1972.  In 1988 he returned to school and obtained a Heavy-Duty Diesel Mechanic Certificate from Salt Lake Community College in 1990.  After High School he served a two-year mission from 1964-1966 for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the Western Canada (Calgary), Mission.  Four years after returning home from his mission, he met his eternal sweetheart, Peggy Salmond, at a Metro dance (church sponsored dance) in Ogden and married her in the Salt Lake Temple, for time and all eternity, on April 10th, 1969.  He worked as a Master Welder for General Electric, retiring after 30 years, but more than just a welder, he was a craftsman, an inventor and an innovator.  Moss could never grow under his soles as he always had a project he was working on and he never wasted a moment sitting idle.  In “retirement” he worked for the LDS distribution center, retiring again after 5 years, then worked the next 4 years at various other jobs, finally retiring for good at age 64.  Of the many projects in his life, the one he was most passionate about was designing and building rock picking hammers.  His hammers were featured in “Rock and Gem” magazine for their various design applications, durability and quality.  At age 69 he was called on a Service Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, proudly serving for 18 months at the Layton Bishop Store House.  He is survived by his sweetheart of 49 years, Margaret Anne (Peggy) Woodward, his 7 children; Barbara (Jared) Hunt, Nancy (Delbert) Ott, Margaret (Joshua) Ihrig, Michael (Kim) Woodward, Julianne (Michael) Clawson, Sarah (Mark) Leatherwood, Camille (Sheldon) McKnight, 21 Grandchildren, 2 Great Grandchildren, 2 Sisters; Cheryl Owens, Ginger (Jimmy) Martinez, and brother; Dennis (Sheila) Woodward.  He is preceded in death by his mother and step father; Alta Fawn (Baxter) Woodward and Oliver Woodward, father Delbert P. Robinson, grandparents; Lawrence Arthur Baxter and Margaret (Stone) Woodward, and nephew Jeff Searle. 

Vern loved people and made friends everywhere he went. He loved helping others, and was loved dearly, he will be missed greatly by his family and friends….until we meet again.   

Funeral services will be held Saturday, October 13, 2018 at 11:00 am at the Porter Lane Chapel, 436 W 400 S, Centerville, Utah.  Viewings will be held Friday, October 12 from 6-8 pm at Russon Mortuary, 295 N Main St, Bountiful and Saturday from 9:30-10:30 am at the church prior to the service. Interment will be at the Lakeview Cemetery. Online guestbook at www.russonmortuary.com