Robert Hadden Chesworth
Robert Hadden Chesworth
1929 – 2022
Robert H. Chesworth was born on September 27, 1929, to Willard John Chesworth and Kathryn Elizabeth Hadden Chesworth in Artesia, Los Angeles County, California. He spent his growing up years in Southern California during what is now known as the depression. He had one older brother, Willard John Chesworth Jr. When they were young, the boys asked for a donkey for Christmas. On Christmas morning they went out to find a donkey in the yard who they named Dynamite. They enjoyed riding him around. After about a month they discovered that Dynamite had “run away.” Only later in life did they learn that their father only had enough money to rent the donkey for a month as money was scarce.
Bob was a bit sickly during his young years and was not able to participate in many athletic experiences. He later experienced better health and ended up taking up tennis which he enjoyed on into retirement. He attended schools in the Colton, California area, graduated from Colton Union High School at age 17, and was a valedictorian, and was captain of the tennis team. He went on for two years at the University of Redlands and then he then finished his degree in Chemical Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. It was there that he was exposed to the upcoming nuclear field which shaped his career.
Bob took a job after college with General Electric in Richland, Washington. It was there that he says the two most significant events in his life took place. He joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and he met and married his wife, Gwenavere Spratling Chesworth. They were married in Richland, Washington on September 20, 1952. They were sealed in the Manti Utah Temple on June 3, 1953.
Bob and Gwen had seven children: Robert, David, James, Philip, Kathryn, Richard, and Karen. While raising their children, Bob was very active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and served in various callings, including serving as Bishop in the Danville, California Ward. It was a very busy life with work and nine mouths to feed.
Bob travelled a lot for his work and ended up marketing nuclear research reactors for the Gulf General Atomic Corporation. He enjoyed travelling around the world and meeting people of various cultures.
After raising their children and Bob’s retirement, they were able to serve four full-time missions together. They were Indianapolis, Indiana; Quezon City, Philippines; Family History Support in Salt Lake City; and a temple mission in Nauvoo, Illinois.
Bob was able to help care for his wife as she deteriorated from the effects of Parkinson’s disease and was very happy that he was able to stay in his home until the end. He passed from this life very peacefully in the early morning of June 7, 2022. He leaves behind seven children and their spouses along with 21 grandchildren, 38 great grandchildren with two on the way, and one great great-grandchild.
Funeral services for Bob will be held on Monday, June 13, 2022 at 11:00 am in the Cedar Hills 7th Ward Chapel, located at 9737 North Chesterfield Drive, Cedar Hills, Utah. Family and friends may call from 9:30-10:30 am prior to services at the church. Interment will be held in the Highland City Cemetery.