Obituary: Thorpe Waddingham

Thorpe Waddingham 1923 ~ 2006 Thorpe Waddingham, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend, passed away on September 18, 2006 after a long struggle with Alzheimer's. He was 83 years old. Born August 19, 1923, in Milford, Utah, the eldest child of Lindsey Bailey and Lois Bohn Waddingham. Graduated from Milford High School in 1941 and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1942. He was the pilot of a B-24 Liberator bomber as part of the 15th Air Force stationed in Italy and North Africa. He was shot down over Hungary and was a prisoner of war for 13 months. He received the Air Medal, Bronze Star and Purple Heart. He returned home and married Norma Michaelsen on May 29, 1946 in Mayfield, Utah. She passed away June 8, 2002. He attended Snow College where he served as student body president and went on to graduate from George Washington University Law School. He began his law practice in Delta, Utah in 1952. As his law practice progressed, involvement in water-right litigation - so important to the Delta area - established him in the forefront of leading water-right attorneys in Utah and the surrounding states. He served as Delta City Attorney from 1958 to 1980. He served in the Utah State Senate for 12 years, including service as senate president, majority leader and minority leader. Served as president of the Utah State Bar in 1963. He chaired the Utah delegation to the Western States Water Council, of which he was an original member, and the Upper Colorado River Commission. He received an honorary degree from Snow College in 1986 and was honored by Southern Utah State College in 1987 for his legislative support of education; served on the Utah Centennial Commission; honored by the University of Utah in 2002 at the Annual Veterans Day program; was a member of the Millard County Sheriff's Posse. Dad was a member of the "Greatest Generation" and gave a lifetime of service to his family, community, state and country. Dad had a special love for the west desert, Millard County and the people who live here. Survived by children Brent (Sherry) Waddingham, Dana (Robert) Field, Lois (George) Christos, Linda (Skip) Dunlavy, and Richard (Miriam) Waddingham; 18 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; sister Jewel (George) Buckle; brother, Lindsay (Lorraine) Waddingham; sisters-in-law Ruthe Michaelsen and Mabel Michaelson. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, September 25, 2006 at the Delta 3rd Ward, 72 North Center Street. Friends may call at Nickle Mortuary, 190 South Center Street, on Sunday, September 24, 7- 8 p.m. and at the church on Monday 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Interment in the Mayfield City Cemetery. Contributions can be made to the Thorpe and Norma Waddingham Scholarship Fund at Snow College or the Utah Alzheimer Association.