Valden Thomas O'Donal

Valden Thomas O'Donnal passed away on October 19, 2011, at the age of 98 at the Sunshine Terrace in Logan, UT. He was born in Bluewater, NM, on September 7, 1913, the fifth of fourteen children. He was raised in the Mormon Colonies in Mexico and graduated from high school there. He attended Gila College in Thatcher, AZ, filled a mission for the LDS Church in the Spanish American mission, and then married his sweetheart, Helen Moffett, on September 20, 1939, in the Mesa, AZ Temple. They were the parents of six children.
Valden and Helen raised their family primarily in Farmington, NM, where he worked as an electrician, mason, carpenter and homebuilder. They also lived in Livermore, CA, Soda Springs, ID, and Tacoma, WA, before moving to Logan in 1996. Valden was an Eagle Scout and served as a scoutmaster at least twice. He loved drama and directed many plays over the years. Many of the youth who were in his plays comment even today how much they enjoyed the experience. He was very active in the LDS Church, serving in many capacities, including as an ordinance worker with his wife in the Seattle temple for sixteen years. They were among the first workers there. Valden and Helen also served a mission in the Mormon Battalion Visitors' Center in San Diego, CA.
He was a gentle, kind, and caring person and always treated everyone he met with dignity and respect, regardless of their life situation. He loved to sing and showed his cheerful disposition by frequently whistling happy tunes. He had a great sense of humor and a very quick wit. He was an effective public speaker and great storyteller.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, twelve siblings and two of his children. He is survived by one brother, Marvin Joanne O'Donnal of Fruitland, NM, and four children: Valden Larell Patsy O'Donnal of Spokane, WA; Larry Sherry O'Donnal of Nephi, UT; Annette O. Longhurst of Logan, UT; and Kevin Debbie O'Donnal of Eagle Mountain, UT. He also has 22 grandchildren and 59 great grandchildren. Valden's funeral Going Away Party as he called it! will be held on Saturday, October 29, at 12:30 PM at the Logan 3rd Ward LDS chapel at 250 N. 400 W. in Logan, with a viewing from 11:00 to 12:00. Interment will be in Washington Heights Memorial Park in Ogden, UT, beside his sweetheart. Condolences may be extended to the family online at www.nelsonfuneralhome.com .