Samuel C. Sandoval, age 87, passed away Wednesday, September 13, 2017, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Born July 19, 1930, in Gobernador, New Mexico. His parents were Jose Ramon Sandoval and Maria Amalia Trujillo Sandoval. Married Vera LaRee Jensen in 1955, and the marriage was later solemnized in the Catholic Church.
Sam was raised by hard-working parents, true pioneers of the southwest. He lived his life continuing the example he was taught. He graduated from Aztec High School and joined the army soon after. When Sam was discharged he moved to the Salt Lake City area to work for the Union Pacific Railroad. While living with friends in the back of a restaurant in Magna Utah, he met the love of his life, LaRee. After a couple of years, they married and went on to raise a great family. They purchased a home in Kearns, Utah and the adventure of raising seven children began. Sam worked for a metal fabricating shop several years while completing a four-year apprenticeship as a metal layout man/ Boilermaker. He then went to work for Kennecott Copper Corporation using the skills he learned during his apprenticeship. After retiring from Kennecott, Sam went to work for Salt Lake County Public Works as a Security/Dispatcher until 2003 when he retired. Sam enjoyed coaching his sons in baseball and football, for many years. He also enjoyed the annual fall deer hunts, camping trips along with many fishing trips, western novels, shooting a game pool, and especially his vegetable garden. He always seemed to make time to be there for his daughters, from changing a flat tire to babysitting, whatever the need was. Sam was a man of simple needs and pleasures, a hot cup of coffee, one of LaRee’s amazing meals and his family nearby.
He is survived by his loving wife of sixty-two years Vera LaRee Jensen Sandoval, Sisters Viola (Felix) Briones and Norleen (David) Boshko. He was a devoted father to seven children, Steven (Julie) Sandoval; Chris (Debbie) Sandoval; Robyn (Robert) Olschesky; Michael Sandoval; Larry (Shelly) Sandoval; Colleen Sandoval Salaz; David (Chasity) Sandoval; nineteen grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by his parents, brother Alfonso Sandoval, sister Julia Sandoval Romero, grandson Justin Jones and granddaughter Kristy Sandoval.
A funeral Mass will be held Wednesday, September 20, 2017, at 10:30 am at Saint Francis Xavier Church 4501 West 5215 South Kearns, Utah. A viewing will be held at the church Tuesday, September 19, 2017, from 6:00 – 7:00 pm and a rosary to follow from 7:00 – 8:00 pm. Interment will be at Memorial Redwood Cemetery 6500 South Redwood Road Taylorsville, Utah.
The Sandoval family would like to extend our gratitude to the staff at the Intermountain Medical Center, and special thanks to Ashlee, Dad’s favorite nurse.Service Information
Viewing September 19, 2017 at 6:00 - 8:00 pm
St Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 4501 W 5215 S, Kearns, UT 84118
Funeral Service
September 20, 2017 at 10:30 AM
St Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 4501 W 5215 S, Kearns, UT 84118