Richard Whitesides

Richard Darling Whitesides

1921 – 2014

LAYTON – Richard Darling Whitesides, known to many as “Dick,” passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 5, 2014.  He was 92 years old.

Dick was born on September 14, 1921, the fourth of five sons of Arta Williams and Heber John Whitesides.  He lived most of his youth in Layton, Utah near where his great-grandfather, Lewis Whitesides, had settled seven decades earlier.  In 1929, when Dick was only eight years old, his father died in a tragic farming accident.  From that early experience, Dick learned the importance of family unity, frugality and hard work, values that defined him for the rest of his life.  Despite these early hardships, Dick never complained or felt bad for himself.  Unable to join the military during WWII because of hearing loss, Dick supported the war effort by working at the Ogden Arsenal as an explosive handler.

In 1945 while delivering milk for the Mutual Creamery in Ogden, Dick met and married a pretty young payroll clerk named Phyllis Warner of Mountain Green, Utah.  In 1972, they were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple.  Dick and Phyllis lived first in Layton and then in Kaysville where they raised three children.  After selling his milk route, Dick worked for King Trucking, Green Trucking and Pacific Intermountain Express before finishing his career in the motor pool at Hill Air Force Base.  Following retirement, Dick enjoyed traveling with Phyllis, maintaining his yard, helping friends and neighbors and being with his children and grandchildren.  He regularly attended any event in which his children or grandchildren participated including baseball games and rodeos too numerous to count.

A member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Dick faithfully served in several callings. Quiet and unassuming, he never sought attention to himself, but was happy to provide anonymous service in any way he could.  Dick enjoyed the company of others and was known for his pleasant demeanor, thoughtfulness and happy disposition.

Dick is survived by two children, Jim (Tina) from Trabuco Canyon, California; and Melanie from Layton; as well as three grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife Phyllis, his son Jody, his parents and four brothers, Dale, Ben, Dave and Johnny.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 19, 2014 at 11 a.m. at Lindquist’s Layton Mortuary, 1867 No. Fairfield Road.  Friends may visit family Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. at the mortuary.  Interment, Kaysville City Cemetery.

The family expresses sincere appreciation to the many family members and friends who were so influential in Dick’s life and particularly to the staff and operators of Legacy Village of Layton where Dick lived for the past four years.