Lowell H Wilkins
Lowell H Wilkins
1936 – 2023
Lowell H. Wilkins passed away peacefully on June 6, 2023, in Alpine, Utah, after a rich and wonderful life. He was born April 3, 1936, to Wade and Harriett Marie Wilkins, in Duchesne, Utah and then spent most of his growing up years in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
After graduating from high school in Colorado Springs, Lowell served as a missionary in Mexico for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and loved to look back on that time. He spoke fluent Spanish afterward, which came in handy when he served as leader for a Spanish-speaking church congregation in Ridgecrest, California, decades later. He graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor’s degree in physics and remained a devoted Cougars fan with season tickets to several BYU sports throughout his life – a loyalty he passed on, insistently, to his children and grandchildren. He met the love of his life, Lloyda Mae Harris, there, and they married in the Salt Lake Temple in 1959.
Lowell gave and served generously, spontaneously, and frequently anonymously. He was a scout leader for many years – his scouts called him “Chief,” and several of them became lifelong friends with him. Lloyda often complained that they never had matching silverware because he took the family utensils on scout camping trips and came home with a completely different hodgepodge of silverware patterns. He also served as a ward mission leader, bishop, Sunday school teacher, and stake patriarch – he had a deep faith in the Savior and treasured his church membership.
As an avid, lifelong learner, Lowell loved physics, mathematics, and astronomy. He went on to earn a Master’s degree from the University of Idaho and a PhD from the University of Texas at Austin, both in physics. He was a civil servant for the US Navy at China Lake, California, working as a physicist for more than 50 years, and loved his job. Most of his family couldn’t understood his occupation completely, but were content to think of him as a “rocket scientist.” He retired, reluctantly, in his early seventies, and he and Lloyda moved permanently to Alpine, Utah. He always kept up with current physics research, preferring articles that included details of the underlying mathematics and complaining about those that “lacked the equations.”
Lowell also loved to play and watch sports, especially basketball. He ranked second statewide as a high-school wrestler in Colorado and continued to wrestle as a member of BYU’s collegiate wrestling team. It was important to him to stay as physically fit and healthy as possible, and he was a regular runner off and on for decades. He ran multiple half marathons, the last one being the Salt Lake City Marathon when he was 73. More recently, he suffered from a neuromuscular disease that made movement increasingly difficult, but he fought tirelessly to maintain his mobility in every way he could. He continued to mow his front lawn with a push mower with the power assist turned off just for the exercise – he mowed it last a few hours before his passing.
Lowell and Lloyda have eight children, and he loved his family and growing posterity dearly, fiercely, and unconditionally. He was the go-to tutor for all subjects related to math or science, and he and Lloyda always enjoyed attending their grandchildren’s many concerts, plays, and athletic and other events together. His love and attention extended beyond his immediate family to include his nieces and nephews, and he befriended many, many people, often when they most needed his friendship. He wept with deep sadness at the pain of loved ones and rejoiced in their happiness and triumphs. Lloyda describes him as the kindest man she has ever known. She also described him as ebullient – he laughed easily and often, and everyone will always remember his zest for life.
Lowell was preceded in death by parents Wade and Harriett Wilkins, brother Leon Wilkins, sister Elizabeth Sroufe, daughter Teresa Telles, and daughter-in-law Kristi Wilkins. He is survived by his wife, Lloyda Mae, his children Anne Marie Woolstenhulme (Bruce), Rachel Denise Mecham (Kelly), Hugh Wilkins (Ann), Kevin Wilkins, Linda Wilkins McGee (Bill), Rebecca Reynolds (Tim), Aubrey Wursten (Brent), thirty-six grandchildren, and twenty-four great grandchildren.
Funeral Services for Lowell will be held on Saturday, June 17, 2023 at 12:00 noon in the Alpine 9th Ward Chapel, located at 901 East Village Way, Alpine, Utah. Family and friends are invited to attend a viewing on Friday evening from 6:30-8:00 pm at the Warenski Funeral Home, located at 1776 North 900 East, American Fork, Utah and also at an additional viewing on Saturday morning from 10:30-11:30 am prior to services at the church. Interment will follow in the Alpine City Cemetery.
You are invited to a Zoom webinar.
When: Jun 17, 2023 12:00 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
Topic: Lowell Wilkins Funeral
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