Ernest (Ted) Edward Spendlove

On April 29, 2024 due to complications related to his long battle with cancer, our dearest Ted peacefully slipped his earthly bonds to embark on his next long ride.  He passed at his home, surrounded by loved ones, with his beloved wife by his side. He crossed the final finish line at age 81.  

Ted was born November 28, 1942, in Delta, Millard County, Utah, to parents, Ernest Blaine, and Harriet Merrill Spendlove and was raised in the small town of Hinckley, located several miles west of Delta.  

Ted grew up on the family farm. He often shared many fond memories of his time spent there with his dad.  When Ted could barely reach the brass balls of the harness, his father would lift him onto the horse so he could help work the farm.  He milked cows, stacked hay, and was driving tractor young enough that he had to get off the seat to reach the pedals.  

His education began at the “dinky” school and later the refurbished Millard Academy building in Hinkley.  He spent his high school years in Delta, graduating from Delta High in 1960, ranking second in his class. He then attended BYU, graduating in 1964 with a Bachelor of Science in accounting and a compound minor in economics and business management. While at school, his parents moved to Kaysville.  He often joked that his parents moved away from Hinckley and that it took him five years to find out where they went.

Following a whirlwind romance, he married Barbara Raymond in the Salt Lake Temple on December 20, 1968. They recently celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary. They have lived in Sugar House, Kaysville, and currently Fruit Heights where they have resided for over 50 years. They are the proud parents of three children:  Laura, Lisa and Blaine.

Ted was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, earned his Eagle Scout, and later served as an Assistant Ward Clerk.

After college he worked at Zions Bank in Salt Lake City as an accountant.   There he developed a passion for computers and computer programming. He spent the next 45 years working with computer mainframes at Zions, American Stores, and at Thiokol where he spent 37 of those 45 years. He often commented, “I’ve had a unique career, in that it did not exist when I graduated from college and it did not exist when I retired.   I had a great time.”

In 2007 Ted retired and never looked back. He enjoyed many trips all over the US and Canada, finally accomplishing a personal goal to drive to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, and Key West, Florida, in the same year.  While in Florida he was able to watch the last launch of the space shuttle Discovery. He felt a special connection to the shuttle program as a result of his work at Thiokol.  

Ted concentrated his retirement time on family and enjoying his hobbies. He was an avid reader with a fondness for science fiction.  The library of books he has read is extensive. He also became a Shakespeare enthusiast after his wife introduced him to the Shakespeare Festival and Camp Shakespeare in Cedar City.

His passion for things with engines was evident from an early age, building and customizing model cars, and driving all sorts of vehicles around the vast desert he called his back yard.  He was a lifelong motorcyclist enjoying commuting and long-distance motorcycle trips with his cousins, wife, and when he felt they were big enough to hold on, the children.  After Ted purchased a motorcycle, he had wanted for some time, he enjoyed long multi-day, motorcycle “coin flip tours” with his son, all over the Northwest typically covering over 1000 miles. After Discovering Open Road Racing (ORR) he became a fierce competitor, winning many trophies and reaching numerous personal goals, driving his prized 1963 ½ Galaxie at average speeds up to 150 MPH.   He made a lot of close and enduring friendships in this racing community. Eventually his whole family became involved in ORR making these events a favorite family tradition. Catching up with friends and bench racing became the things he enjoyed most. One of his early racing sayings was “Life begins at 90 MPH.”  

Above all else he loved his family, especially time spent with his grandchildren.

Ted is survived by his wife Barbara, daughter Lisa Liu, son Blaine (Nancy) Spendlove, his grandchildren: Sam and Shelby Spendlove; Kylan, Jayda, and Myles Liu; his sisters Mary Garbutt and Elaine (Kelly) Merrill; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest Blaine and Harriet Merrill Spendlove; daughter, Laura Spendlove; brother-in-law, Donald Garbutt; a treasured niece, Dorothee Wright Ottley; and a close cousin, John Wright.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday May 22, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at the Fruit Heights 6^th Ward, 77 S. Orchard Drive where it intersects with Peachtree Lane in Fruit Heights, Utah. Friends and family may visit on Tuesday May 21 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lindquist’s Kaysville Mortuary, 400 N. Main Street, Kaysville, Utah and Wednesday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at  the church prior to the service.

The funeral service will be live-streamed and may be viewed by scrolling to the bottom of

Ernest (Ted’s ) obituary page at www.lindquistmortuary.com

Interment, Kaysville City Cemetery, 500 E. Crestwood Road, Kaysville, Utah.

The family would like to express appreciation for all those who have so generously donated  service, flowers, food, and prayers in Ted’s behalf. Also, special thanks are extended to the doctors, nurses, physical therapists, aides, and paramedics who have helped care for Ted during the longest race of his life.  

In lieu of flowers, Ted has requested that donations be made to the Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City.

Scan the QR code below if you wish to donate.