Robert Sheppard

Robert W. Sheppard

June 12, 1927 ~ April 24, 2017

Robert passed away peacefully on April 24, 2017 at the George E. Wahlen Veterans Home in Ogden, Utah.  He was born on June 12, 1927 in Salt Lake City, Utah.  His parents were Winslow “Bud” and Isabel C. Brown Sheppard.  He had an older brother William “Bill” and a younger sister Helen.

Bob lived his whole life in the state of Utah.  As a young man he joined the Army during World War II.  He served in the 127th Airborne Battalion in occupied Japan near Sendai.  When Bob returned from the service he met and married Ellen Stokes on November 1, 1948 in Salt Lake City.  They were later sealed in the Salt Lake LDS Temple.  They have been married for over 68 years and have rarely been apart.  They were a dedicated and loyal couple. Bob loved his family and would tirelessly serve them and provide for them.  He was a great grandfather and especially loved teaching his grandsons many useful skills.  He was also unselfish in the service he would provide to anyone in need especially if you needed something repaired of fixed.

Bob’s career began when he became a lineman for Mountain Bell Telephone Company.  He worked for Bell Systems for over 35 years and eventually became a manager there.  When he retired he and two partners started their own telephone company and called it Phone Com. He was always a hard worker.  He was known for getting things done.  He was talented in the building trades which he learned from his father.  He liked to build, repair, and remodel things.  One of his larger projects was an old farmhouse he remodeled into a summer home for his family.  Projects and work were his hobbies.

Bob liked to take his family camping and traveled around Utah seeing all the beautiful scenic wonders.  In later years he and Ellen went on longer vacations visiting many different areas in the United States and the world.  He also owned a series of previously owned motor homes.  He and a friend Darwin like to tinker with their machines.  He was always happiest on vacation when he was fixing something.

He was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He was a Bishop and especially enjoyed being a Physical Facilities Representative where he could keep the church buildings in good order.  He and his wife Ellen have served three missions for the church.  They first went to Norway and then served two missions in Ogden.  They also served in the Ogden LDS Temple for many years.

Bob is survived by his wife, Ellen; his two children, Maryellen (Craig) Campbell and Robert Rand (Linda) Sheppard; his three grandchildren, Cameron H. (Alicia) Jensen, Travis R. (Erika) Sheppard, and Kari Lyn (Waylon) Webster; and eleven great-grandchildren; his sister, Helen (Dan) Hill; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.  He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, William “Bill”; and a granddaughter, Malinda Jo Sheppard.

We wish to thank the kind and loving staff and caregivers at George E. Wahlen Veterans Home.  They provided excellent care always going above and beyond for the last six months of his life.  We also wish to thank Bristol Hospice and their staff and especially his nurses Carla and Leesa.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, April 28, 2017 at 11 a.m. at the Burch Creek 4th Ward Chapel, 4955 Adams Ave., Ogden, Utah.  Friends may visit with family on Friday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the church.  Interment, Lindquist’s Washington Heights Memorial Park, 4500 Washington Blvd.  Service entrusted to Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Missionary Fund of The Church Jesus Christ of Latter-day or to the George E Wahlen Veterans Home.