William Scott Whipple

Our beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and friend was reunited with his dear wife and sons on January 30, 2026. William Scott Whipple was born in Salt Lake City, UT on August 13, 1941 - the oldest child of Kenneth Whipple and Norma Stoddard and cherished older brother to three sisters. He was nurtured and raised in Salt Lake and graduated from South High School. He enjoyed spending summers with family in Island Park, Idaho where he learned the value of hard work at the Stoddard Saw Mill and built cherished memories.

He attended the University of Utah for his undergraduate and graduate studies, where he met his sweetheart and eternal companion Susan while serving as the president of the LDS Student Association’s Sigma Gamma Chi organization. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple on March 16, 1967. They had a strong desire to build and love a large family and would bring nine children into this world. Scott was a dedicated spouse and loving husband, and provided tender, attentive care to his wife over the years and through difficult health challenges.

Scott worked tirelessly to support his family, and often held multiple jobs at the same time. He was an impassioned public educator and lifetime advocate of knowledge and learning, and built a remarkable career encompassing roles from seminary teacher, special education teacher, vice principal, principal and administrator. The capstone of his career was founding and serving as Executive Director of the Granite Education Foundation - a realization of his vision for bringing together business leaders to bring additional resources and basic necessities to high-need students, and to recognize and appreciate educators district-wide. The foundation was truly a model for the state and nation, and Scott generously shared his expertise in philanthropy to help other jurisdictions bring additional support to their schools. Throughout his career he always centered the needs of the most at-risk students, and always made time to stay in the classroom and work directly with students - acting as a reading tutor during his lunch breaks and spare time, and even after his retirement.

A mentor and counselor to many, Scott was relentless in helping and lifting others - from his students, family, colleagues, neighbors and his community. He saw value and worth in everyone, and had a gift for making people feel significant, special and deserving. No accomplishment went unnoticed by him, and his enthusiasm for others and belief in their potential never diminished. He cultivated a practice of gratitude and chose to live with an optimistic lens, even in times of tribulation and suffering. He expressed appreciation often and to everyone, rarely letting a day pass without writing a stack of thank you cards to friends, loved ones or acquaintances. He was always ready with an affirming quote, poem, scripture or anecdote in times of need.

He loved spending time and making memories with his family and loved ones; whether at a beach volleyball match, playing catch in the backyard, on a golf course, or over a game of cards. He loved annual vacations with family to Laguna Beach and Yellowstone. Scott was a lover of nature’s wonders, American history, local sports teams, and reading. He drew inspiration from the heroes of American history, church history and the scriptures, but was truly the ultimate hero to those of us who knew and loved him well.

Scott’s life was anchored in his testimony of Jesus Christ, and his faith propelled him daily to be a tool for the betterment of the lives of all who encountered him. He served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in New England and that area of the country holds a special place in his heart. He enthusiastically served as bishop and in many other capacities for the Church over the years, and especially enjoyed his time serving in ARTEC Branch presidency– a youth behavioral treatment center. He loved the scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon which was his self-proclaimed favorite book and which he read over 40 times throughout his life.

Survived by his children: Karen (Court) Coons, John (Amanda) Whipple, Jennifer (John) Owen, Rebecca (Mike) Chidsey, James (Jenn) Whipple, Richard (Dana) Whipple, Allen (Holly) Whipple, Daughter in Law Char Whipple; 23 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren and sisters Melanie (Marv) Kaiser, and Cindy (Jack) Wilhite; Preceded in death by his parents; wife Susan Jean Herrscher Whipple, sons Michael Whipple and Daniel Whipple and sister Janis Whipple.

We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to all the caregivers and health care professionals at Spring Gardens Senior Living and Inspiration Hospice that tended to Scott’s health and wellbeing over the last weeks and months of his life.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, February 6th, 2026, at noon at the Olympus Stake Center on 2675 E 4430 S in Salt Lake City. A viewing will precede the services on Thursday, February 5th from 6-8 pm and again one-hour prior Friday at 11:00 am. Interment at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers we encourage donations in Scott’s memory to the Granite Education Foundation, where his legacy of nurturing students and educators will live on: https://granitekids.org/