Milford Lyle Whitworth

NORTH LOGAN ? With family at his bedside, Milford L. Whitworth passed away April 12, 2004 at the age of 86 at the Terrace Grove Assisted Living Center in Logan.
Milford, known to his friends as Mel or M.L., was born to Lyle and Mary Whitworth on a farm in Macksburg, Iowa, on June 11, 1917, the oldest of two sons. He graduated from Macksburg High School and attended Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa.
On July 11, 1941, Milford enlisted in the United States Army and became an army medic with the First Infantry Division. Prior to going to the European war theater, he was stationed in Fort Eustis, VA, and Camp Upton, NY. Beginning in 1944, he participated in the liberation of Europe, serving as a company medic in the 26th Infantry Regiment in Germany, France and Czechoslovakia. After he left active duty, Milford joined the United States Army Reserve Corps, where he served until his retirement in 1978.
After the war, he was discharged from the Army and returned to Simpson College, where he met Rachel Hollingsworth of Woonsocket, South Dakota. Milford and Rachel were married in Salt Lake City, UT, September 28, 1947 at the Centenary Methodist Church. They moved to Logan, UT, in September 1948 to establish an insurance agency where Milford was District Manager. Milford worked as an insurance agent for more that fifty years.
Their first son, Leslie arrived in 1948, and their second son, Dennis, arrived in 1950. that year Milford and Rachel purchased a five acre farm in North Logan. North Logan remained their home until they moved to Terrace Grove in 2002. Six more children were born to Milford and Rachel from 1952 to 1961.
Since moving to Logan, Milford was active in the First Presbyterian Church of Logan. He served on several committees and church boards through the years. His community service included the Boy Scouts and 4-H clubs.
As a devoted member of the American Legion, Milford served in several capacities including recruiting for the American Legion, Chaplain, and Post Commander of Logan Post 7. Through the years he helped to organize graveside ceremonies for hundreds of Armed Services personnel and veterans. It was his passion that the funeral of every serviceman and veteran be conducted with dignity and followed by a military honor guard. Milford held the highest standard for patriotism and loyalty to his country. Every Memorial Day you could find him placing the flags on the graves of all those veterans who proudly served in the military.
In his military service, both on active duty and as a reservist, Milford?s main concern was for saving lives and the welfare of his fellow soldiers. In his business, integrity and honesty were his foundational principles. To his family he always modeled for us patience, consistency, faithfulness, love and hard work. He considered the success of his children to be his greatest accomplishment. He was strong and courageous in the midst of difficulty even in his last days.
Milford was preceded in death by his wife, Rachel, and infant daughter, Lavon. He is survived by his children: Leslie Carol Whitworth of Portland, OR; Dennis Connie Whitworth of Roy, UT; Ann Doug Ransom of Colorado Springs, CO; Gordon Danielle Whitworth of Deming, WA; Susan Timothy Woodruff of Monument, CO; Brian Nancy Whitworth of Mesa, AZ; Lee Diana Whitworth of Santaquin, UT; 23 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Saturday, April 17, 2004 at First Presbyterian Church at 200 West Center in Logan. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday from 11:00 to 12:30 p.m. at Nelson Funeral Home, 162 East 400 North, Logan. Burial will be in the Logan City Cemetery. Military rites will be by Logan American Legion Post 7.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made in Milford?s name to Hospice Alliance of Utah or First Presbyterian Church. Condolences to the family may be made online at www.nelsonfuneralhome.com .