Gwendolyn Vernon

Gwendolyn Eloise Thompson Vernon passed away peacefully Sunday, January 5, 2020, at her home in Sandy, Utah, of natural causes. She was born February 8, 1935, in Odessa, Texas. She was the fifth child of Darvin and Bernice Thompson. Her father died of pneumonia four days before she was born. Her mother, her brother, Carroll, and her sisters, Roxie, Ruth, and Esther predeceased her.
Gwen and her siblings were raised by her widowed mother during the Great Depression and the years of World War II. She grew up in Odessa and attended school there. Her mother took her children to the movies on Saturdays when Gwen was young. She developed a life-long love of movies and enjoyed watching old classic movies on TV. Gwen and her family were contacted by missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints following the war. She and her sister, Ruth, were the only members of the family to join the church. Gwen joined the church in 1952 at age seventeen. She graduated from Odessa High School in 1953 and attended BYU one year. She returned to Odessa, attended Odessa College the following year, graduating in 1955 with a two­ year Associate in Applied Science Degree.
In the fall of 1957, she decided to return to BYU to continue her education and entered the nursing program. It was there that she began dating her future husband, Robert. Following a courtship of almost two years they were married on June 19, 1959, in the Salt Lake Temple. They lived in Provo for the next two years while Robert continued his education. In October 1960, their first child, Scott, was born.
Following Robert’s graduation in 1961 they moved to Granger/Hunter area of the Salt Lake Valley (now West Valley) and bought a home there several years later. Gwen and her family remained in West Valley for the next 25 years. Three more children were added to the family: Bruce in November 1962, Annette in May 1968, and Laura in May 1970.
Gwen was a stay-at-home mom when her children were young. Later she worked part time in the admitting office at LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City. She was active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving in several callings in the youth programs and supporting her children in their activities. She made many life-long friends during the years she lived in the West Valley area.
Gwen enjoyed life. She was always smiling and was very socialable. She joined her children and their friends in many outdoor activities. She often went camping with her family. Every two years the family traveled to her home-town in Texas on their vacation to visit her mother and extended family. She treasured these get-togethers.
In 1986 Robert’s employment took them to Mesa, Arizona. By then only Laura was still at home. While there Gwen again followed her interest in the medical field. She found work in the laboratory of a local hospital. Their stay there was short (two years) and Robert’s employment took them to Detroit, Michigan. It was there that Gwen was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Her desire was to return to Utah to be near her now-grown children and they made a transfer back. They bought a home in Sandy, Utah, which Gwen immediately knew was the one for her. They have lived there for the past 29 years. She obtained work with LabCorp reporting results of blood analysis to doctors.
 In 2000 both she and Robert retired. Because of her MS they limited their travel to locations in Utah. She came to love Cowboy Poetry and Cowboy Music and they spent most of their retirement years going to performances by local and national poets and singers.
In December 2016 they were saddened by the passing of their son, Scott. He also was afflicted by MS, which was the main contributor to his death.
Gwen and Robert have six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, with the ninth one due in March. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in 2019.
Funeral services will be held Friday, January 10, 2020, at 11:00 a.m. at the Lone Peak Stake Center located at 11570 South Wasatch Blvd. in Sandy, Utah. A viewing will be held Thursday evening at the same location starting at 6:00 p.m. and at 9:30 a.m. prior to the services on Friday. Interment to follow at Mountain View Cemetery at 3115 East 7800 South, Cottonwood Heights, Utah.
Service Information
Viewing January 9, 2020 at 6:00 - 8:00 PM
11570 South Wasatch Blvd Sandy, Utah





Viewing January 10, 2020 at 9:30-11:00am
11570 South Wasatch Blvd Sandy, Utah





Funeral Service
January 10, 2020 at 11:00 am
11570 South Wasatch Blvd Sandy, Utah